Newcastle United’s potential big-money swoop to bring winger Andros Townsend back to the club will be a hard sell to the club’s money men, according to the Chronicle.
The North-East newspaper claim that while Rafa Benitez is open to a reunion with the Premier League wing king this summer, the fact his signature would cost a significant chunk of the manager’s transfer budget proves a problem.
The Chronicle state that as Palace won’t consider a £20million offer for Townsend, as reported by the Daily Mirror, with Benitez’s budget only being £40million Townsend’s price tag could end any hope of a return to St James Park.
OPINION
The Chronicle assesses Benitez’s budget by pointing out that the initial £40million he is being handed to spend needs to be enough to welcome a new striker, right-back, and midfielder. While the newspaper state that money from sales could potentially be added given Palace refusal to accept £20million, it does seem like a deal is off the cards. The report also details how there is already an uneasy relationship between the two Premier League sides due to the London club’s previous decision to quote the Magpies a crazy high loan fee in 2017 and that’s going to factor in negotiations for Townsend. It also states that as Townsend was sold for £13million by the Magpies in 2016 it’s doubtful that the club would be willing to pay double that to bring him back, and that’s understandable. The winger may have featured 39 times for Palace in his 2017/18 season but there’s no reason to suggest that he is worth the Magpies risking a huge portion of their budget for to get him.
