I also think Townsend played some of his best football under Benitez. If he can recreate that he'd be a star.
Matt Ritchie is one of the best players at the club. One of the first names on the team sheet in my opinion. If Rafa has a plan then I'll happily hear it but selling Matt Ritchie? Why?
Yep, I personally think he's very limited, Championship player. He and Gayle are in that "just not good enough" category. Townsend is a markedly better player, upgrade for £3m or so? Worth it. More rumours about that Chelsea have decided to let Kenedy go, so we're talking to them, around £20m. Presumably this is part funded by Merino and Mbemba's combined £17m - Ki being Merino's direct replacement and we do have a couple of options at CB anyway with Clark, Dummy plus some young 'uns who might get a look in such as Yarney. We do realistically only need to upgrade, we don't need net-new players in. But it's the wheeling and dealing up front that concerns me the most - still hearing Jorgensen mentioned, yet in my eyes he's a useless lump of crap. If he cost £5m we'd still moan, as he looks no better than Joselu.
I believe we are going to sign Ings. A good signing for the right price if we can keep him fit. Sell Mitro and Gayle for £20m and £15m get Ings in for £10m and that leaves £25m. Add the £10m for Merino and £7m for Mbemba and sign Kenedy for £20m and we still have £22m. Sell Ritchie for £15m (personally I would keep him) and buy Townsend for £18m and we still have £19m and we aint touched any new money. I think this would be good business!
Ritchie and Atsu or Townsend and Kenedy - I know which two I'd prefer.... but think Ritchie would be a good back up option as he can play either side or in the 10 position and has the right attitude.
However, Atsu can do that. Yes Ritchie is slightly better than Atsu but Atsu wouldn't bring in £8M let alone near enough double that! Also, don't like the major risk on Ings - we would need another striker if we bought him.
Apparently they are asking for £30million, so we are trying to negotiate a season long loan with a set buy fee of around £20million for next summer.
Agreed but I'd be keener to keep Ritchie tbh even if it mean we only had £10m left over from your sums above. I will burn down SJP if we sign Ings on a free let alone pay for him - another no talent waster who'll spend the majority of the time on the treatment table.
He does. By no means is he top class but he is every bit a PL footballer for me and I think he did a good solid job last year. I personally don't think Townsend is that much of an upgrade. However Rafa got quite a bit out of Townsend so I understand the desire to bring him back. They both have good and bad attributes and its probably more the type of player. Ritchie is far better in possession and has a much better all round game. Clearly Townsend though brings that pace you need when you play the cagey style Rafa does.
Real shame that we need to lose one to fund the other, but given financial limitations that's how it's going to go for a while Would have been interested in bringing in Townsend on the wing and moving Ritchie into the No 10 role - less need for pace and also still make full use of his work rate
The whisper from the Toon side of things is we sell Ritchie and get BOTH Townsend AND Kenedy. Atsu/Kenedy left Townsend/Murphy right Fast as fook.
Palace sources are saying we are in talks about Mitro with them. I can see a Townsend plus cash deal in the offing...
Ah, is this where their £30m valuation comes from? That's probably what we are quoting clubs when they enquire about Mitrovic.
