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Transfers
Could this Bournemouth winger have a huge impact at Newcastle United?
Matt Ritchie is closing in on a move to join the Rafa Benitez revolution at Newcastle, and this is a statement of intent to the rest of the division. The majority of relegated clubs normally need to sell players before investing heavily in the squad, as shown with Norwich’s sale of Nathan Redmond. However, Newcastle are set to spend £25 million this week with more additions possible, with Ritchie joining highly-rated goalkeeper Matz Sels and Dwight Gayle both joining the club.
Although a few departures are inevitable, it appears as though Benitez will be retaining a lot of last season’s squad, with Mike Ashley ready to back him in the transfer market. There will probably be three or four further additions in the coming weeks, with defensive recruitment a priority.
In terms of the move for Ritchie, it is one that will raise eyebrows, as he appears to be an important; if not vital, player for Bournemouth. He featured
in all but one of the club’s Premier League matches last season and there was not any sign of the club wanting to sell the Scottish international. There may have been a problem behind the scenes, or they may have just received an offer that they could not refuse.
For Ritchie personally, he is dropping down a division, ending up in one that he has already dominated, but there are more forces at play here. He is getting the opportunity to join up with a world class manager in Rafa Benitez, and he may see Newcastle as a better project in the long term. Bournemouth have already achieved extraordinary things, and the room for growth may be minimal compared to what Newcastle could possibly become under Liverpool’s former Spanish boss.
All summer, the word coming from the North East club is that they want to acquire British players, who are tough enough for the Championship and have the potential to be good players in the Premier League too. Ritchie fits all three criteria, for he was one of the best players in the Championship two years ago and enjoyed a decent campaign in the Premier League last season.
During Bournemouth’s promotion campaign of 2014/15, he scored 15 goals and contributed 17 assists, an eye-watering return. Ritchie was involved in a goal every 116.6 minutes, which is simply incredible. Newcastle will be hoping he brings similar numbers to their attack.
In terms of his style, Ritchie is good on the ball, capable of beating players and has a lot of intelligence in the final third. He is capable of picking out incisive passes, providing excellent crosses into the box, while he also carries a goal threat. His shooting from range will be a huge threat for sides next year, as he showed during Bournemouth’s promotion campaign, scoring a number of goals from distance.
Ritchie will also provide a quality set piece delivery, which Newcastle lacked at times last season. Benitez will know the importance of having top drawer deliveries from a dead-ball to call upon, especially in the second tier, and the signing of Ritchie will go some way of rectifying that problem.
He is predominantly a right winger, and that is most likely where he will play for Newcastle. Ritchie is a hard-working wide-man who does track back and puts the team first, which is going to be an important quality that the former Chelsea manager will be looking for.
Too many of the players last season hid under pressure and many were labelled lazy as fans, turning it on against the big teams and coasting in many of the games against the lesser clubs. That is something that Ritchie cannot be accused of, as he will give every ounce of effort in each match. There are areas of his game such as consistency and tackling that need work, but Benitez will attempt to improve those aspects.
Ritchie may be seen as a replacement for Andros Townsend, who is linked with a move to Crystal Palace, but there are reports that the England international might stay at the club. If he does, then Newcastle have two very exciting, direct wingers who will be capable of doing extremely well in the Championship.
An attack featuring Matt Ritchie, Andros Townsend, Dwight Gayle and Aleksandar Mitrovic would be one of the best; if not the best, in the entire division. The likes of Ayoze Perez and Adam Armstrong will also be around the starting eleven, providing options off the bench to change the pattern of a game.
In isolation, Ritchie is a game-changing signing and one that will strike fear into the rest of the league. Many had doubts over Benitez’s knowledge of the Championship, but this signing suggests he knows exactly what is required. A further two or three acquisitions of this calibre and Newcastle will be firm favourites to win the Championship, achieving an instant return to the Premier League in the process.