Middlesbrough could return for Newcastle United’s Matt Ritchie.
According to The Sun, Middlesbrough may move for Newcastle United’s Matt Ritchie once Adama Traore completes his expected move to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Boro saw Traore thrive in the Championship last season, hitting five goals and 10 assists as he helped Tony Pulis and co reach the play-offs, before losing to Aston Villa in the semi-finals.
The 22-year-old has blown hot and cold in England having left Barcelona for Villa in 2015, with many suggesting that he is all pace and power yet no end product, and he has started to reverse that trend in the Championship.
Now, Wolves want to hand Traore another shot in the Premier League, with Nuno’s men closing in on a deal according to The Sun – and the report also notes Boro’s hopes in terms of a replacement.
Two names feature; West Bromwich Albion winger Matt Phillips, who worked with Pulis at The Hawthorns, and Newcastle United wide man Matt Ritchie, who has already been linked with Boro this summer.
The Telegraph reported in June that Boro were keen to sign Ritchie for £15million, and if Traore moves on, it appears that Pulis could rekindle his interest in luring the Scotland international from Tyneside to Teesside.
Ritchie, 28, was key for Newcastle in their Championship-winning campaign in 2016-17, and chipped in with three goals and five assists for the Magpies in the Premier League last season.
The wide man has been linked with an exit this summer though, and with Rafael Benitez needing to sell before he can buy, Ritchie could be sacrificed – and Newcastle may be bracing themselves for an offer in the coming days.
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