Championship heavyweights Stoke and Boro target £15m Newcastle winger
Newcastle’s Scottish international winger Matt Ritchie is being linked with a drop down to the Championship with two former Premier League mainstays – Middlesbrough and Stoke City (according to the Telegraph).
The 28-year old is an apparent £15 million target with both Championships clubs keen to lure Matt Ritchie for a season in the second-tier of English football.
Previously at Premier League Bournemouth, Matt Ritchie made a shock move to the Championship in 2016 with Newcastle, winning promotion and proving his worth in the Magpies return to the top-flight – scoring three and setting-up a further six goals for Rafa Benitez’s team.
The Telegraph suggest that Rafa Benitez is ‘open-minded’ about the prospect of selling a first-team player this summer, but £15 million would be welcome in strengthening other key areas of the side – and making a £3 million profit on the original £12 million spent on Ritchie.
Stoke want an immediate return to the Premier League under new boss Gary Rowett, who has already signed Benik Afobe and Oghenekaro Etebo (who’s played at this summer’s World Cup). Middlesbrough led by Tony Pulis, have already splashed the cash on Aden Flint and Paddy McNair.
Bournemouth, Ritchie’s former club, are also keen on re-signing the 28-year old who helped Eddie Howe’s side to promotion from the Championship and also from League One, ultimately proving to be a fans favourite on the south-coast contributing 31 goals and 29 assists during his time at the club.
