A vast number of Newcastle United fans have been left fuming on Twitter at the suggestion that winger Matt Ritchie could be out the door at St James’ Park for a fee of £15million this summer.
The Telegraph have claimed that Championship duo Stoke City and Middlesbrough have both been in contact with the Tyneside club and that discussions have resulted in the eight-figure price tag being slapped on the head of the Scottish international.
However, despite the desperate need for transfer funds this summer, the news has not gone down well with many of the members of the Toon Army, who state that he is one of the club’s most important players, and that the reported fee is well below what the Magpies should be asking for.
This is Futbol has rounded up a selection of the supporters’ reactions from social media:
https://twitter.com/Kevin_Nichol/status/1012286796959571968
Absolute steal, key player for #nufc, would be mad to sell him imo
— X (@MjaNufc) June 28, 2018
Would Def not sell him, need more like him
— GlennO (@glenn2502) June 28, 2018
Got to be joking best player
— Callum Otter (@Callumotter) June 28, 2018
https://twitter.com/Jordy_Dear_/status/1012286569330421760
https://twitter.com/JDN_4321/status/1012287402168213505
Flipping heck. First Marino, now Ritchie. We needed more players already and now we could be selling some of our better ones. Only at #NUFC https://t.co/vc2Puiek5Z
— Rob Smyth (@rsmyth24) June 28, 2018
Selling Ritchie is madness. Utter, utter madness. #NUFC
— Rohan Banerjee (@RBanerjee23) June 28, 2018
Opinion
The fans’ reactions should come as no surprise to those in the boardroom at St James’ Park, for Ritchie is one of the most beloved members of the current squad. His attitude both on and off the pitch has been well received by both those in the stands as well as the man in the dugout, with Rafael Benitez relying on the former Bournemouth as one of his lieutenants in the first team. There have been times when Newcastle could have done with 11 Matt Ritchie’s on the pitch, and after just two years on Tyneside, the Toon Army are not ready to say goodbye just yet. Those considering selling up should heed that warning.