A swap deal involving Newcastle United midfielder Matt Ritchie and Bournemouth attacker Ryan Fraser would not financially work, according to Chornicle journalist Lee Ryder.
The reporter claimed via the Chronicle website’s live blog [2:42pm] that the club have been looking at the Cherries winger throughout the course of this season, but questions whether a deal involving Ritchie going the other way would work financially.
He says that United valued Ritchie at £20 million last summer when Stoke where interested in him.
OPINION
Ryan Fraser would be a promising addition to the Newcastle team, but Ryder is right, a swap deal involving Ritchie would not financially work if he was valued at £20 million last summer. Fraser has scored seven goals this season, which is a promising figure for someone who operates on the wing, but why would they want to swap him for Ritchie? Ritchie has been excellent for Newcastle this season, so the last thing they would want to do is swap him. If they really want Fraser, surely they should try and pursue him without the lure of Ritchie? They have shown that they can spend after the signing of Miguel Almiron, and they would be a lot better off having the two players rather than just the one. This means that Rafa Benitez would have more strength in depth in this position, and surely the manager would want this if injuries occur?
