Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez has explained how the sale of Andros Townsend to Crystal Palace, prompted the club to sign both Dwight Gayle and Matt Ritchie back in the summer.
Townsend left St James’ Park just six months after arriving at the Magpies and joined Alan Pardew’s side in a £13million back in July. Talking to the Chronicle, Benitez said he already had in mind the players he needed to bring in to replace the England international:
“As soon as we knew that Andros Townsend was leaving, Ritchie and Gayle were our priorities. We tried to sign them and knew they would make us strong in these positions. We were very happy to get them, and very pleased as soon as we watched Gayle train. We knew what he was capable of, and he always trained very well.”
Gayle signed in a £10.5million deal in early July and has gone to be the Magpies’ most successful summer signing with eleven league goals before the end of October. Ritchie meanwhile joined from Bournemouth in a £12million transfer back at the same time as Gayle and has made a significant impact, scoring two goals and providing five assists, becoming Townsend’s direct replacements.
The speed of the transfers and the fact that Benitez was able to get the signings he requested certainly demonstrates the shift in the manager’s power at the club since the Spaniard decided to stay in the summer.
