According to a recent report by the Daily Mirror, Newcastle United midfielder Matt Ritchie is in line for a surprise exit from the Tyneside club this summer. The same source has also revealed the Magpies will be reluctant to give away their prized asset but are prepared to consider offers in the region of £10m, a fee which would mean that they would recover the money paid to Bournemouth for his services back in the summer of 2016.
Ritchie has been an integral member of Rafael Benitez’s team after putting in a series of brilliant displays for them during this campaign. The former Swindon Town midfield ace has featured in 32 matches for the Magpies this term, scoring three goals while grabbing five assists in all competitions.
He has been one of the main reasons why Newcastle do not find themselves in relegation trouble and are still in contention to secure a top half finish in the Premier League standings.
The 29-year-old is also quite experienced at the international level, having represented Scotland in 16 matches while also scoring three goals for his nation thus far. He has shown that he can be a reliable facilitator for both club and country in recent times.
Ritchie is moderately paced and is a good dribbler with the ball at his feet. However, he is more renowned for his playmaking abilities as he has developed an eye for a defence-splitting pass in the final third. There is no doubt that his departure will be a bitter pill to swallow for the Magpies in their quest to establish themselves at the top of English football someday (a bit over the top but you get the sentiment).
Benitez needs to find a way to retain one of his top performers or else bring in a suitable replacement who can hit the ground running from the get-go. The Tyneside club cannot afford to take another step back under Benitez’s tutelage. Hence, finding a capable replacement will be vital for them in their mission to survive in the Premier League in the coming years.
For now, Ritchie’s departure will be a big blow for the Magpies, but if Newcastle can make some clever acquisitions in the summer, then it won’t affect their team at all heading into the new season.
