Newcastle United missed a good’un in Andriy Yarmolenko.
Newcastle United might be in the market for a right-wing option soon, if they aren’t already.
Matt Ritchie is heavily linked with a move to Stoke City, with The Daily Mail reporting earlier this month that Newcastle’s asking price could reach as high as £20 million.
Rafael Benitez has a ready-made replacement in Jacob Murphy, but the former Norwich City man’s disappointing first season at St James’s Park suggests that the Spaniard needs someone a lot better.
And has he just missed someone who would’ve been a major upgrade on Ritchie?
West Ham United snapped up Andriy Yarmolenko for £17.5 million on Wednesday [Evening Standard] – potentially a huge bargain for the East Londoners – and if he dazzles in the Premier League then questions should be asked over why Benitez wasn’t in the running.
Going forward, Yarmolenko is a significantly better player than Ritchie and Muprhy, and one who would have massively improved the Magpies.
Ritchie has his uses, hence why United fans like him, but three goals and five assists in 35 Premier League outings last season isn’t exactly stellar and Yarmolenko certainly has the ability to better that return for the Irons next season.
Benitez’s summer transfer window last year was brimming with missed opportunities, but the Spaniard was excused by the fact that the money wasn’t there, but the money was there for the Ukraine international and the Newcastle boss overlooked him regardless.
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