ESPN announced last night that Newcastle United have the option to sign on-loan Chelsea winger, Christian Atsu, for a fee of £6.5m and MUST decide whether to activate the clause within 7 days of the season ending.
The report also claims that personal terms have already been agreed as part of the loan deal, with the ball now firmly in Newcastle’s court according to sources close to the player.
Atsu has shown flashes in his loan spell on Tyneside, with 4 goals and 3 assists this season, however appears to divide opinion amongst fans, with several unsure whether the Ghanian international should be signed permanently.
The 25 year-old was tipped for big things when he joined Chelsea from Porto in the summer of 2013, but has since spent the last four seasons out on loan, failing to ever win a permanent deal following stints with Vitesse, Everton, Bournemouth or Malaga.
The suggested fee of £6.5m is, in this day and age, a relatively low one and with this in mind, I’d be happy for Atsu to sign as a squad player. He appears to be a confidence player and can often go missing in games, but his signing may be necessary given the lack of wingers at the club – especially with Yoann Gouffran likely to leave once his contract expires in the summer.
Even if we did make Atsu’s deal a permanent one, I fully expect Newcastle to sign a first-team left winger this summer, with our reliance on Matt Ritchie from the right often highlighting our lack of balance offensively this season.
6.5m is nothing in today’s market they need to snap him up mike fatshely spends that in casino’s a month ?
John jem walker mags(Quote)
I’m a local grassroots coach on Tyneside, so my opinion does not count for much in the professional game. However, Atsu was rightly
a squad player at championship level. He could do the same job in the premier league, but he’s not one for the starting 11, as he simply is
not at that level. At 6.5M he is a reasonable option for the bench, but that also depends on wage demands.
Gary Stephenson(Quote)
Atsu has been very hit and miss and the fact Rafa wanted a left winger in January.
I think there are better out there.
Stuart79(Quote)
That lasted long didn’t it… So now SJP is raided and Charnley arrested on suspicion of income tax fraud… 😳
Stuart79(Quote)