Newcastle United are deep in talks to sell Matt Ritchie even though he has been a regular starter under Rafael Benitez, according to the Telegraph.
The newspaper claim the north-east giants have held “detailed discussions” with Championship duo Middlesbrough and Stoke City over a deal for the winger, 28.
The Telegraph report Rafael Benitez is “open-minded” about offloading Ritchie and a £15millon asking price has been set by Newcastle for the first teamer amid ongoing negotiations.
OPINION
Given the reliability of the Telegraph and John Percy, the transfer expert who has written the story, Newcastle fans will be highly concerned that the club are in the advanced stages of selling a key player. Ritchie started 32 Premier League matches last season and his haul of three goals and six assists from 38 matches in all competitions demonstrated how well he had adapted to the team’s promotion from the Championship. It is intriguing that Benitez could be willing to cash in on Ritchie, although presumably that will only be if he is given the proceeds of the transfer to invest in a replacement in this summer’s market. The former Bournemouth player is popular with supporters who appreciate his commitment and desire to maximise his talent. In truth, he is not the dazzling wide player the Toon faithful crave, but he is a reliable performer who can be inked in for a 6/10 or 7/10 performance most weeks.
