Crystal Palace winger Andros Townsend has responded to rumours linking him with a return to Newcastle United, admitting that he will be focusing on the club he’s contracted to, ‘until that changes’.
Make of this what you will (see interview clip below), but he does nothing to commit himself to Palace and does nothing to play down our interest.
The 27-year-old swapped St James’ for Selhurst Park just two years ago, leaving the club after our relegation to the Championship in the summer of 2016, however it’s been clear ever since that Benitez would love to be reunited with the winger.
Here’s what he’s had to say when asked about the Newcastle rumours while away with Crystal Palace pre-season training camp:
Andros Townsend's response to rumours linking him with a return to #NUFC..
Hmmm ? #CPFC pic.twitter.com/Hop5gZ0tAt
— Black&WhiteBarmy (@BlackWhiteBarmy) July 12, 2018
‘We’re seasoned pros now, we’ve been in and around the game for years.
‘Your name gets linked with other clubs every transfer window it seems, but you’ve just got to get on with it and just focus on what you’re doing for the club you’re contracted to until that changes.
“But yeh, not really – I’m just focused on pre-season and am trying to get some minutes under my belt in Sweden and Denmark”
Is it just me, or does he drop a bit of a hint here? He’s never going to give much away, but he does anything but rule out a return to St James’ Park – admitting that he’ll remain focused on Palace ‘until things change’.
This sounds a bit to me like ‘I’ll focus on Palace and remain professional until Newcastle agree a deal that allows me to do otherwise’.
Sky Sports and The Chronicle have both confirmed our interest, but any deal may dependant on Matt Ritchie’s exit – with the ex-Bournemouth man being Stoke City’s ‘top target’ and the man who’d make way to fund a move for Townsend.
One to watch – I’ve got a feeling something’s going to come of this over the final few weeks of the window.
