Matt Ritchie left Bournemouth for Premier League rivals Newcastle United in 2016 with Rafa Benitez’s side paying £12m.
Bournemouth are planning to bring Matt Ritchie back to the South Coast from Newcastle United this summer, according to the Northern Echo – but that does not necessarily mean The Magpies will let him go.
Ritchie spent three-and-a-half years with Eddie Howe’s side, scoring 15 goals as they won the Championship title in 2015. And Bournemouth earned £12 million when they sold the Scotland international to Newcastle just 12 months after they were promoted to the Premier League for the first time, as reported by The Mail.
And with Ritchie’s future up in the air, The Cherries are reportedly drawing up plans to hand the former Portsmouth youngster a second chance at the Vitality Stadium.
Ritchie has been a key player for Newcastle in 2018/19, grabbing five assists from his new role at left-wing back.
According to the Northern Echo, Ritchie wants a new long-term deal at Newcastle but, given that he will turn 30 in November, is seems unlikely that he will get his wish. Magpies owner Mike Ashley is famously reluctant to invest in players who have already hit their peak.
And Bournemouth are hoping to take full advantage by making a formal approach once the Premier League season comes to an end.
But The Chronicle claims that no talks have been held about his future so far with sources at St James’ Park ‘mystified’ by claims that Newcastle could let one of their most in-form players go.
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