Matt Ritchie in talks to leave Newcastle United in the next 5 days - Report

According to The Mail's Craig Hope, Bournemouth are now in talks to re-sign Matt Ritchie - but no agreement has been reached between the two clubs as of yet.

The 31-year-old has regularly been linked with a move back to the South Coast in recent transfer windows, with him tipped to join The Cherries when we were negotiating a deal for Callum Wilson last summer.

Ritchie signed a new deal at St James' Park just 10 months ago, but has become a bit-part player in recent months, starting just once since the turn of the year and playing just 16 minutes of football in our last four games.

Interestingly, The Sun's Alan Nixon stated after last weekend's defeat to Aston Villa that we'd been considering a potential part-exchange with Bournemouth that could see them sign Ritchie and us get Danish midfielder Phillip in return.

It remains to be seen if that's something we are pursuing, with Josh King another who we've been heavily linked with in the past, however it does feel like this is the beginning of the end for Ritchie at Newcastle United.

Not only is his game time diminishing and his ability to cut it at Premier League in question, it seems he wants a move South for one reason or another?

Should his exit allow us to sign one or two first team players in the final five days of the January window, I wouldn't be against it and would wish him all the best.

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