Andros Townsend future latest: Newcastle winger receptive to staying due to Rafa Benitez05:30, 8 JUN 2016
BY CHRIS WAUGH
Newcastle United winger Andros Townsend has been repeatedly linked with a transfer away from St James' Park
Andros Townsend is receptive to staying at Newcastle United - but he has not yet pledged his future to the club following relegation.
It is understood that the 24-year-old is keen to remain at St James’ Park in order to continue working with Rafa Benitez, though he is not yet ruling out a move to a Premier League side should an exciting offer come his way.Crystal Palace are reportedly readying a bid for the England international winger, while Southampton and West Ham United have also been credited with an interest.
Reports earlier this week suggested Townsend had committed to stay at the club for the 2016-17 Championship campaign, but that is not yet the case.Townsend is not entirely closing the door on potentially heading to a Premier League side this summer if his reported £13million release clause is activated, but Benitez’s decision to commit to United in the Championship is leading the former Tottenham Hotspur forward to err towards staying.Under Benitez’s management, Townsend excelled during the final 10 matches of the campaign, earning an England recall in the process - even if he missed out on Roy Hodgson’s final 23-man squad for Euro 2016.
As a result, the winger is believed to be willing to spend a year in the second tier under the former Real Madrid boss’ tutelage.When he was reconfirmed as Newcastle boss last month, Benitez insisted he would have the final say on all incomings and outgoings at St James’ Park this season - and that he was determined to hold on to the majority of his star players.
On Wednesday, however, Moussa Sissoko made it explicitly clear during an interview in his native France that he intends to leave the club this summer.
In response, Newcastle reiterated their stance that the club, and not individual players, would decide who will depart and who will stay over the coming months.
A club statement read: “We have had enquiries for some of our players, but our position remains the same: We want to retain and build a very strong squad at Newcastle United for the forthcoming season and that is absolutely what we will do.
“We will always act in the best interests of the club and the squad.”
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