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Report: Crystal Palace’s Andros Townsend would prefer Newcastle loan switch before considering long-term future this summer

Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez celebrates with Andros Townsend at the end of the match (REUTERS)
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Newcastle United want to sign Crystal Palace winger Andros Townsend just a few months after selling him to the Eagles.

A report in the Daily Mail has suggested that Crystal Palace winger Andros Townsend would prefer to join Newcastle United on loan this month before considering his long-term future in the summer.

Townsend left St James’ Park for the Eagles in the summer after a promising spell with the Magpies. But after failing to replicate that form at Selhurst Park – he has just one goal and one assist in the Premier League this term – it appears that he may be about to return to familiar surroundings.

Crystal Palace's Andros TownsendCrystal Palace’s Andros Townsend

The Mail reports that Palace are in talks with the Championship leaders about a potential deal for the 25-year-old. And while the Eagles would rather sell Townsend to Newcastle in an attempt to bolster their transfer funds going into the final stages of the window, the Mail hints that the fact that Palace will soon have to pay an instalment of £3 million could be used as they negotiate a loan fee.

Crucially, the Mail adds that Townsend would prefer to return to Newcastle on loan this month before weighing up his options in the summer, due to the positions that both clubs are currently in.

Newcastle United's Andros Townsend looks dejectedAndros Townsend, during his time with Newcastle

Rafael Benitez’s men currently top the second tier and appear to be on course for an instant return to the top flight, but, of course, the unpredictable nature of the division means that their nine-point lead over third place is still not comfortable.

And Palace may be about to learn more about that unpredictability next season as their defeat against Everton on Saturday has left them in the bottom three. And it is perhaps due to the precarious position they currently find themselves in that Townsend wants to leave his options open for the summer.