Newcastle taking risk as reports allude to potential Matt Ritchie swap

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Newcastle United could reportedly use Matt Ritchie as part of the deal to bring Josh King to St James’ Park.

According to a report from The Sun over the weekend, Newcastle’s unwillingness to spend £20 million on Josh King could see the Magpies use Matt Ritchie as a makeweight in the deal with the winger returning to Bournemouth.

The Sun suggests that Benitez is desperate to sign a new striker this summer, and it appears that letting Ritchie leave to make it happen is a decision that the Newcastle boss is prepared to take.

King has been impressive over the last two years, scoring 24 Premier League goals for Eddie Howe’s men, so it could certainly be argued that he would be a very decent addition to Benitez’s squad.

But is letting Ritchie go as part of the deal a little too risky from Newcastle?

The 28-year-old may not have always been at his best last season, but his record since arriving from the Vitality Stadium hints that it could be a major mistake to let him leave this summer.

Ritchie was superb during their promotion-clinching campaign, scoring 12 goals and contributing seven assists in the Championship. And he followed that up with three goals and five assists in the league last season.

Just two players in the entire Magpies squad had a direct hand in more goals last term. And when you consider that he scored the winners against Manchester United and Arsenal during the second-half of the year, it seems to make so little sense to let Ritchie leave as part of the move.

If King guaranteed goals, then perhaps it would be a little more understandable. But before his 2015 move to Bournemouth, King’s best tally for league goals in a single season was two. If he struggles to settle into his new surroundings, it could prove a costly mistake, especially if Ritchie is allowed to head the other way.