The only way Newcastle United could fund their eight-figure pursuit of Crystal Palace winger Andros Townsend is by selling Matt Ritchie or Aleksandar Mitrovic, according to the Chronicle.
The regional newspaper state that the Magpies have re-opened talks about signing the Premier League wing king but any purchase depends on who the club are able to sell as spending power is a complex issue for Rafa Benitez currently.
The Chronicle report that Palace are determined to get a hefty fee for Townsend and that the player’s agent has spoken to both clubs about a deal being done for a lower fee.
OPINION
It was reported by The Sun that the Magpies and Palace were in talks over a £18million deal for the winger who can play on either flank, and that Benitez was signing him as a replacement for Ritchie. Yet despite The Telegraph claiming that Stoke City and Middlesbrough had made the Magpies midfielder a £15million target the Chronicle thankfully share that there has been no suitable bid made for him. The northern paper also state that Benitez may feel Ritchie is worth more and this should see his exit not happen. While that may scupper the Magpies’ chance of signing Townsend it would be a good move on their part. Ritchie may not be an exciting goal-scoring winger like Townsend but his crossing ability and work-ethic make him invaluable to the Magpies. Therefore if the only way a deal for Townsend can be reached is by selling Mitrovic or Ritchie then the Magpies should get moving on getting the Serbian forward out the squad not their hard-working midfielder.
