Newcastle could offer both Matt Ritchie and Dwight Gayle to Bournemouth in order to help secure the signing of striker Callum Wilson, a report from a print edition of The Mirror (16/08, p66) has claimed.
Wilson scored eight goals in 35 league appearances last season but was unable to save Bournemouth from relegation from the Premier League after five years in the top-flight.
However, it seems as though Wilson’s own Premier League adventure might be over just yet, with the latest reports claiming that Magpies manager Steve Bruce is keen to make the 28-year-old his first-choice striker for next season.
But if he is to do that, it appears as though Newcastle may have to offer something other than cash in order to prise Wilson away from the Vitality Stadium in the next few weeks.
It is thought that Newcastle will offer both Ritchie and Gayle to Bournemouth as part of the deal – with the north-east club valuing the duo at £8.5million each – before adding some cash on top of that to take the value of the deal to over £20million.
Ritchie is of course a familiar face at Bournemouth, having made 142 appearances in all competitions for the Cherries between 2013 and 2016, during which time he helped them win promotion both from League One and the Championship.
That is something you feel could help tempt Bournemouth agree to this offer, as could the fact that Gayle’s record in the second-tier is nothing short of prolific, meaning both could be useful as the Cherries go in search of an immediate return to the Premier League next season.
As for the interest in Wilson, it does seem as though Newcastle could do to add another striker after the frustrations in front of goal of the season just gone, and the Bournemouth man does have the potential to be someone who can rectify that providing the right sort of supply comes his way.