As confirmed by the Chronicle, Newcastle United have rejected Stoke City’s £15m bid for Matt Ritchie – with Benitez deeming it ‘unacceptable’ given the prices quoted for his potential replacement.
Lee Ryder has admitted that the Potters are prepared to offer him ‘huge’ wages – with them believed to have offered him £75,000 a week ‘plus bonuses’ – but Benitez is standing firm on our asking price (which is probably more like £20m if I had to guess):
‘An offer of £15million has been deemed as unacceptable by the Magpies and Rafa Benitez does not want to sell the Scotland international unless he is handed a quality replacement.
‘Stoke are trying to turn Ritchie’s head with a wage packet of £75,000 a week plus bonuses but 28-year-old remains open to staying at Newcastle.’
I don’t blame us for rejecting this offer.
Given the amount they’re willing to pay him per week, it’s quite clear they are happy to chuck big money at him – and we’ll need every penny we can get if we’re going to sign a Premier League-ready replacement like Andros Townsend.
The big question is – would you be happy to see Townsend come in for Ritchie? I think most will be split on that, but I get the feeling Benitez would happily do that ‘swap’ if finances allowed us to.
