Keep Ritchie – 75% of Newcastle Fans Polled Dead Against £15m Swoop For Replacement

The Daily Mail are reporting that we are one of three clubs tracking West Brom winger Matt Phillips. Cardiff City were believed to be leading the race for the 27-year-old with both us and Middlesbrough also in the running.

However, Bluebirds boss Neil Warnock told Wales Online yesterday that the Baggies are demanding £15m, which led to them cooling their interest in the player. It was reported that a £11m offer from the Welsh club could be in the offing but that seems unlikely now.

I decided to poll fans about our own reported interest in Phillips and the majority felt that keeping Matt Ritchie would be the better option:

The Chronicle believe that we will sell our no.11 if we can find a suitable replacement, but they say there has been no approach for the West Brom midfielder, and that Crystal Palace’s Andros Townsend is the club’s preferred option.

I agree with most fans on this one. Signing Phillips wouldn’t be an upgrade on Ritchie, and I don’t see this one happening.