Do Newcastle still need summer transfer target Andros Townsend?

Follow us on Google Discover

Rafa Benitez wanted Newcastle United to target Crystal Palace winger Andros Townsend during the summer.

Back in August, the Daily Mirror reported that Rafa Benitez had been left extremely frustrated by the Newcastle hierarchy’s unwillingness to enter the running to sign Crystal Palace winger Andros Townsend ahead of their return to the Premier League.

Despite his frustration, the Magpies would seemingly not change their mind as the window closed with Townsend remaining at Selhurst Park.

So with seven games of the new season gone, should Newcastle feel like they still need to target Townsend?

The Magpies have made an extremely promising start to the season, winning three and drawing one of their opening seven games in the top flight to sit ninth in the table heading into the international break.

Five of their six assists have come from the two men who would have probably suffered the most had Townsend returned to St James’ Park, with Christian Atsu bagging one assist following his permanent switch from Chelsea in the summer while Matt Ritchie has been sensational, contributing four assists – only two players have made more this term in the Premier League.

And neither of those players are Townsend, who is probably hoping that Newcastle did come in for him during the summer based on how Palace have started the campaign.

The Eagles are bottom of the table and have lost their first seven games without scoring a single goal. The Englishman has certainly not been one of their worst players this season but his form has not exactly left the fans with copious amounts of optimism.

In a better-performing side, the former Tottenham man may perhaps find himself having more success, so perhaps there is an argument to suggest that Newcastle could still actually do with having him in their team as they do not boast an abundance of out-and-out wingers.

But perhaps it could be argued that not targeting him in the summer may have, accidentally, been a brilliant move as when the January window opens, his value would have surely plummeted if Palace remain in trouble, and Newcastle waiting to land him does not appear to have hurt them at all.