Matt Ritchie
Football journalist Dean Jones has claimed that Matt Ritchie has been informed by Newcastle United that he can leave the club in the January transfer window.
The Magpies signed the Scottish international for an initial fee of £10 million (Guardian) back in 2016 – when Rafa Benitez was still at the club. Ritchie was a regular back then, but he has fallen out of favour now.
Newcastle have told Matt Ritchie he can leave the club in January
Since joining Newcastle over six years ago, Ritchie has played 190 times in all competitions. He has been a decent player for the Magpies, but he’s nowhere near the top of Eddie Howe’s pecking order now.
The 33-year-old has made just two appearances so far this season – only one of that came in the Premier League, that too for just one minute against Wolves back in August.
He hasn’t made the squad since the start of October, and it’s clear for everyone to see that he has no future at the club. If Jones is to be believed, he has been informed the same by Newcastle.
The journalist told GiveMeSport: “I’ve been told that he is a player that has been told he can go in the New Year.
“I know there has been some interest from America, there are MLS clubs that like him, so that might be an avenue that opens up to him.”
Ritchie’s current contract expires at the end of this season.
[Source: tbrfootball.com]