Selling Matt Ritchie to Middlesbrough should now be unthinkable for Newcastle United

Follow us on Google Discover

Rafael Benitez has made Matt Ritchie an integral part of his Newcastle United side over the past two seasons.

According to a report in the The Sun, Middlesbrough are contemplating coming back in for Newcastle United’s Matt Ritchie, as Adama Traore nears an exit.

Traore is expected to leave the Riverside Stadium, which means Tony Pulis’ side are set to be in the market for a winger.

Boro have already eyed up Newcastle man Ritchie this summer, but failed to get a deal over the line at the first attempt.

However, Pulis’ men could come back with another offer for the Newcastle wide-man in the near future.

At one stage of the summer it seemed that Ritchie would depart, but letting the Scot go now would be inadvisable.

Newcastle have had a transfer window which has caused great frustration around St. James’ Park.

The Magpies have shown very little ambition, with all their additions coming in for minimal transfer fees or on loan.

Newcastle fans are up in arms with their failure to land Rafael Benitez’s top targets, and Ritchie’s departure would only send more criticism in Mike Ashley’s direction.

Ritchie, who is on a £50,000-a-week contract (Daily Star), may not be a stand out Premier League winger, but he has proven a vital asset for Newcastle over the past two seasons.

And letting go of such a popular and hard-working player should now be unthinkable, as doing so would damage the atmosphere around St. James’ Park even more ahead of the new season.