Newcastle United are reportedly highly interested in re-signing Andros Townsend from Crystal Palace this very summer. The Eagles have set out an asking price of £17m which Rafael Benitez will have to consider after confirming the addition of Kenedy from Chelsea. The Brazilian is set for a medical at the St James’ Park next Monday to confirm his permanent switch after an impressive 6-month stint at Tyneside.
It is being said that Townsend’s transfer will have no relation to that of Kenedy’s move as Benitez looks to bolster his attacking lineup ahead of the 2018/19 campaign. The 26-year-old was sold off to Palace in the summer of 2016 following Newcastle’s relegation from the Premier League.
Townsend has not only set himself up as a cemented starter in the Eagles first team but has also drawn the interest of other top-flight outfits. He took to the pitch 39 times last term and delivered with 2 goals and 9 assists to help Palace out of a troublesome relegation battle.
He still has 3 more seasons left in his contract with 79 total games registered for the Selhurst Park-based outfit. Five years back, the Englishman was just a troubled youngster who was struggling for game time in the Tottenham Hotspur ranks.
With 9 loan spells registered during his time with Spurs, the 26-year-old was finally sold off to Newcastle in January 2016 after failing to make a single senior team appearance that season.
Townsend always showed promise during his 18 caps for the England U16, U17, U19 and U21 sides. He started to come into his own during his initial move to Tyneside, scoring 4 goals and setting up 2 assists in 13 games.
The left-footed speedster has even been capped 13 times for the England national team, his first call-up coming in September 2013 in the World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine. Townsend does have a prolific presence on the pitch which could be fully unleashed by Benitez.
Newcastle’s cemented starter on the right wing, Matt Ritchie is wanted by a number of Championship outfits. His sale could open up an immediate starting spot for Townsend in the Magpies first team.
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With Kenedy resuming control from the left, Townsend will be able to add a bit of pace and creativity to the United attack. Ritchie might have been a consistent performer for Newcastle during rough times but he does not quite have the cutting edge as the Englishman.
