OPINION
Newcastle United stalwart Matt Ritchie has been one of the team’s best players this campaign, transitioning from midfield to wing back consummate ease.
Despite that, though, he could be on his way out this summer. The Sun reported on Thursday that Sunday’s clash with Fulham could be the 29-year-old’s last with the club amid interest from Championship side Stoke City.
Potters boss Nathan Jones is thought to be monitoring Ritchie’s situation, with no contract extension agreed between the Scotland international and the Magpies.
Newcastle’s supporters will likely have their heads in their hands after reading this report. It is absolutely baffling that one of the team’s most consistent players could be given the boot this summer.
If the Magpies are to progress they need solid operators like Ritchie. He has been one of the lynchpins of the team this term so to potentially offload him to a second tier side would beggar belief.
You could get a decent fee for him, sure, but beyond that what is the attraction in getting rid of him? Who is realistically going to play at left wing back as well as he has done this season? Paul Dummett is likely set for a centre back role in the future, while Ciaran Clark isn’t half the attacking threat that Ritchie is.
Selling Ritchie would make no sense, yet The Sun claim Sunday could be his last game in a black and white shirt. Thats enough to have any Magpies fan scratching their head.
Perhaps The Sun are wrong, they’re not a paragon of accurate journalism after all. Still, the noises concerning Ritchie of late haven’t been particularly encouraging and this report merely continues that theme.
