Newcastle United look set to finalise the sale of centre forward Adam Armstrong to Blackburn Rovers for £3million, according to the Sun.
The newspaper states that Armstrong was wanted by a multitude of Championship clubs after manager Rafael Benitez sanctioned his departure this summer.
It’s Rovers, for whom the 21-year-old scored nine goals in an impressive loan spell in the second half of last season, who have won the race for the England Under-21 international.
The Magpies will receive £1.75million up front, and a further £1.25million in potential performance-related bonuses. The striker returns to Ewood Park to link up with boss Tony Mowbray for a third time in his career.
OPINION
Many Newcastle fans will feel somewhat peeved about this news, with the striker never being given a proper first team opportunity at St James’s Park. That despite having impressed at all youth levels and during his loan spells away from the club. With Benitez desperately trying to sign another centre forward, it does beg the question of why Armstrong wasn’t given a chance on Tyneside? However the manager has made his decision, and Blackburn will surely benefit. £3million isn’t a bad deal for Newcastle, but when £1.25million of that isn’t even guaranteed money then the deal starts to look slightly suspect. Armstrong is a born goalscorer who enjoyed an excellent loan spell at Ewood Park last season, so you do wonder whether the Geordies could have gotten a little more money for him. Perhaps Benitez is right and Armstrong simply wasn’t Premier League material, but you do wonder whether Newcastle will end up regretting this sale in a few years time.
