Newcastle United need to raise funds for new additions, and one way to do that would be to sell Matt Ritchie to Premier League rivals Burnley.
Matt Ritchie is arguably one of the very few players in Newcastle United’s squad who could claim to be up to Premier League standard. Yet, in truth, he has not exactly delivered on a week-in-week-out basis so far this season.
Ritchie’s assist tally of five is impressive on paper, but his failure to score a single goal in 21 Premier League appearances is a cause for concern; even if he is expected to create rather than take chances.
Nonetheless, Newcastle should give Burnley short shrift with reports emerging that Sean Dyche wants to take Ritchie to Turf Moore to replace long-term absentee Robbie Brady.
According to the Daily Mail, Everton’s Aaron Lennon, West Bromwich Albion’s James McClean and Jordan Jones of Kilmarnock are all on the Clarets’ radar. But Dyche is understood to be considering an ambitious move for Newcastle wide man Ritchie as well, with the Burnley boss an admirer of his vicious delivery from wide areas.
The report adds that Newcastle need to raise funds for new additions in January, suggesting that they may have to consider offers for Ritchie this month.
But surely it makes little sense for Rafa Benitez to part with one of the first names on his team-sheet. The Magpies need a new striker, a left-back and a goalkeeper if they are to move away from a relegation battle, but selling Ritchie would leave Newcastle without their most creative and unpredictable player.
Sure, Ritchie’s stats could use a little work, but Benitez needs to find a way to pair the winger with a new goal-scorer and not sell one to sign the other.
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