OPINION
Newcastle United must not sell midfielder Matt Ritchie this summer even if his departure would significantly boost the club’s transfer budget.
The Telegraph claimed on Thursday that the 28-year-old right-sided midfielder was a £15million target for Stoke City and Middlesbrough with Benitez open-minded about selling Ritchie as his exit could see the manager get the funds needed to improve his squad.
The national newspaper then reported on Friday that Benitez was weighing up whether to listen to offers for the midfielder as he was reluctant to lose a player that had been key to the club’s success in the last two season.
It should be an easy decision for the Spanish manager to make as losing Ritchie would simply hurt his squad and he is wrong to even consider making the sacrifice.
The 28-year-old was one of the Magpies standout performers in the 2017/18 season as he put in several superb displays in his 38 outings to significantly help his side’s cause.
Ritchie, who earns £45,000-a-week at the club (Source: Spotrac), has more than proven himself to be a worthy member of Benitez’s side in the Premier League as there are few players who can consistently cross the ball as well as he can.
The midfielder also works incredibly hard for the team and wears his heart on his sleeve as his passion to help the Magpies has seen them battle their way towards impressive results.
Also Ritchie will no doubt be even better in his 2018/19 campaign than he was in the 2017/18 season as he won’t be adjusting to playing in the Premier League.
The 28-year-old may have featured in England’s top-flight before last season but his upcoming campaign is the first time where he will actually get to play consecutive campaigns in the Premier League.
This should see him able to start quicker than the last and hit the ground running as he won’t be adjusting to playing in a different division and will be up to speed with England’s top-flight from the get go.
Therefore the Magpies would be foolish to sell Ritchie this summer even if he could add £15million to the transfer kitty by leaving as he’s already an important member of the first-team and is likely to become even better in the upcoming campaign.
This means that it is vital that the Magpies keep him in order to continue progressing towards achieving regular success in the Premier League.
