OPINION
With Matt Ritchie’s future at Newcastle United in the balance, the club should look at Watford winger Richarlison as his replacement.
As reported by Chronicle Live, Newcastle’s Ritchie is a target for both Stoke City and Bournemouth this summer, but they need to find a replacement before they will consider selling.
The report reveals that Rafael Benitez is targeting one of Chelsea’s Kenedy or Crystal Palace winger Andros Townsend, but they’ve been quoted high fees should they want to purchase either player.
With this in mind, Benitez should consider Watford’s Richarlison as a replacement for the Scotland international.
The Brazilian would likely cost a bit more than the club want to pay, but this player will be an investment for the future and will only get better with more football experience and especially under Benitez’s management.
The 21-year-old is an exciting talent. He’s got great pace and is able to breeze past opponents with his excellent dribbling ability, he’s embarrassed a fair few Premier League defenders since his transfer from Fluminense last summer.
His first season in English football was a massive success, scoring five goals and providing 5 assists in 38 appearances in the top-flight for Watford last season (TransferMarkt).
But the numbers deceive a little bit because, with a bit more composure and maturity, the winger could have scored a lot more goals. He got himself into so many dangerous positions, showing his impressive skills, but he needs to develop his final product to become a top-quality player.
There’s so much ability there, but there’s also so much room for improvement. This makes him the perfect replacement for Ritchie, as he can grow to become a better player than the 28-year-old ever could be.
If the club’s funds allow, Richarlison could be a game-changing signing for Rafael Benitez.
