Andros Townsend’s past comments on Newcastle United boss Rafael Benitez

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Newcastle United are said to be interested in signing Crystal Palace’s Andros Townsend.

Newcastle United are said to want Crystal Palace winger Andros Townsend this summer by the South London Press & Mercury, and a reunion with Rafael Benitez could appeal to the winger.

Townsend worked with Benitez at Newcastle back in the 2015/16 campaign, but he left after the Magpies were relegated.

Townsend enjoyed one of the best spells of form in his career with the Magpies, but he was unable to keep them in the top tier.

The England international ended up at Palace, but Newcastle have bounced back without him.

The Magpies actually finished ahead of Palace last term, and Benitez is know said to want the skilful winger back on Tyneside.

Whether Newcastle and Palace will be able to agree a deal remains to be seen, but Townsend may well be keen to work with the Spanish boss again, if his past comments are anything to go by.

“It would be massive for Newcastle to keep Rafa as manager,” Townsend told the Guardian back in 2016, when he was still contracted to Newcastle.

“He’s one of the best managers in the world. If we can keep a manager of that calibre and keep doing the right things we’ll build. We won’t cut corners but we’ll build for the future and come straight back into the Premier League.”

And the winger’s praise for Benitez did not stop after he left St. James’ Park.

“I spoke to him on the phone pretty much every day,” Townsend revealed to the Telegraph, just after his move to Palace. “When I made my decision I dropped him a text to let him know. He texted to congratulate me on my England call-up. He understood and all is well there. I became a better player under him.”

Townsend scored four goals in 13 games for Newcastle during his first spell with the club, and would be hoping to recreate that sort of form, if he was to move back up north again.