Newcastle United hope to tie up deal for Matt Ritchie after 'positive' talks with Bournemouth winger05:30, 30 JUN 2016
BY LEE RYDER
Matt Ritchie is expected on Tyneside on Thursday morning after initial talks with Newcastle United
Newcastle United are looking to tie up a deal for AFC Bournemouth winger Matt Ritchie after positive talks with the Scotland international.The Magpies welcomed Dwight Gayle to Tyneside on Wednesday afternoon but Rafa Benitez is far from finished in the transfer market this summer.
United have already discussed a fee for Ritchie with the Cherries and had early discussions about personal terms.
Ritchie was expected to fly to Newcastle on Thursday morning with Newcastle hopeful of pushing the deal through in time for pre-season training’s opening day 24 hours later.Luring Ritchie from the Premier League to Newcastle after relegation would be a big plus for Benitez who is looking to bounce back to the top flight at the first time of asking.
Bournemouth have already resisted a bid from West Ham this summer but the player is understood to be keen on making the move to the North-East.
Ritchie was born in Gosport but qualifies to play for Scotland due to dad and at the time of his first call-up he said: “My dad was born in Edinburgh and so were my grandparents.
“My granddad was in the Royal Navy and they moved to England after he had been posted to Portsmouth, which is where I grew up.
“I’ve still got relatives in Scotland but my aunties and uncles always seem to come down here to see my nan and granddad so I haven’t actually been to Scotland.
“But I’ve got family there and I’m sure they will come to the games if I’m involved.”
Having Benitez in charge is clearly paying off for the Magpies with the Spaniard also persuading Belgian goalkeeper Matz Sels that Newcastle are going places with two Premier League clubs in Middlesbrough and Southampton after his services.
Benitez is on Tyneside for the start of pre-season training but hopes to add another defender to his list before then assessing what other gaps need to be filled if any of his internationals leave this summer.
The ex-Real Madrid manager has already stated he wants the likes of Moussa Sissoko and Gini Wijnaldum to stay but wants to have face to face talks with the duo when they return to the club’s Benton base. Both players have suggested they want to leave but are under contract.http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/newcastle-united-hope-tie-up-11544630
