Rumoured Newcastle target Ryan Fraser is reportedly willing to force through his exit from AFC Bournemouth in the summer, which could spell bad news for Matt Ritchie.
The Mirror are claiming that the Cherries ace is willing to quit Eddie Howe’s side amid growing interest in his services, with the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea all said to be monitoring his situation.
Fraser has been at Bournemouth since 2015, when the south coast natives signed the Scotland international from his childhood side Aberdeen.
His contract at the Vitality Stadium, however, is due to expire in June 2020, and the Cherries have no option to extend it. Fraser is also willing to run down his current terms in order to force through a move, as he has ambitions of playing for a top-six side.
That’s not to say Fraser would reject a move this summer, as the 7-cap international is hopeful someone will take note of his stellar form for Bournemouth, and offer the Cherries a high figure for someone entering the final 12-months of their contract.
At present, the 5 ft 3 left-winger is topping the big chances created statistics with 24 clear-cut opportunities to score, and tops the assists charts with Chelsea’s Eden Hazard, as 13 have been put in the back of the net.
Along with half of the Premier League’s big six clubs, we have reportedly shown an interest in his services recently, with the Daily Mail claiming Ritchie could be used to grease the wheels.
The former Bournemouth ace moved to Tyneside back in 2016, and has been involved in 55 goals since, but has been shifted from side-to-side by Rafa Benitez this term.
Sixteen of the Gosport-born winger’s game this season have come as a left-back, and eight as a left-mid, while just 11 have come in his more natural right-midfield slot, and one on the right-wing.
With the board valuing the 16-cap former Scotland international at £15million, there were suggestions we could offer the 29-year-old back to Bournemouth as part of a player-plus-cash arrangement for Fraser. Although how that would be received on the south coast remains to be seen.