Newcastle United could finally welcome long-term target Hugo Ekitike to St James' Park for 'around £30million', according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

Having been Europe's biggest spenders in January, it appears Magpies head coach Eddie Howe is preparing to splash the cash once again this summer.

What's the latest news involving Ekitike?

According to 90min, a £30million deal which would take Ekitike from French side Reims to Tyneside is already in the pipeline.

The report suggests Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United also hold an interest in the two-cap France under-20 international, but Newcastle are in pole position and the switch may initially be billed as a loan deal with an obligation to buy after one season.

While Ekitike's Reims contract still has more than another two years to run, it seems the 19-year-old is destined to move onto pastures new in the summer.

That is because Reims president Jean-Pierre Caillot told Europe 1, via Get French Football News, that Ekitike is ‘probably going to leave’ as he would ‘waste his time’ staying on the books of his current employers.

Newcastle were on the brink of signing the frontman for up to £33million in January but, on deadline day, Ekitike opted to stay with Reims amid additional interest from Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain.

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What has Dean Jones said about Ekitike?

Jones understands Newcastle will have to stump up a similar figure to what they were willing to pay in January if they want to eventually seal the deal for Ekitike.

The transfer insider believes Reims' asking price has not altered in the months which have followed.

Jones told GIVEMESPORT: "I think it will even out at around £30million. That's still going to be the case and it was always the initial figure we were given.

"Whether it's with add-ons or not, we're still going to be looking at that sort of figure for him."

Why are Newcastle looking to bring in a new striker?

Although Chris Wood was signed from Burnley in January, having forked out £25million, he has not hit the heights Howe would have hoped for.

The New Zealander has only found the back of the net twice since his mid-season switch, while Callum Wilson and Dwight Gayle are Newcastle's only other striker options.

With the Magpies being the world's richest football club, following a £305million takeover led by the Saudi Arabia-based Public Investment Fund last October, Howe will be looking for upgrades in each position in the summer.