Newcastle United have reportedly agreed a fee worth up to £12 million with AFC Bournemouth for Matt Ritchie, according to the Daily Mirror’s football writer Darren Lewis.
The Cherries winger is set to be unveiled by Newcastle before the weekend as the Magpies moved swiftly to replace Andros Townsend. The former Spurs man looks set to return to London, with confirmation of his move to Crystal Palace expected on Friday.
Bournemouth look set to make a healthy profit from Ritchie, having signed him from Swindon in 2013 for £350k. Part of the team that gained promotion to the top-flight in 2015, Ritchie hit four goals and provided six assists in the Cherries’ debut Premier League campaign as they coasted to a 16th-place finish.
In Ritchie, Newcastle have acquired a Football League veteran of 10 years, with his most profitable campaign coming in that promotion-winning season where he supplied 15 assists and notched 17 goals. Rafael Benitez will be hoping that the Scotland international can bolster his Newcastle team and help return the Magpies to the top-flight at the first time of asking.
In what is a busy period of activity for Newcastle, Dwight Gayle looks set to join from Palace, with goalkeeper Tim Krul being linked to a move to north-east rivals Middlesbrough. Captain Fabricio Coloccini also looks set for an exit, to former club San Lorenzo.
