Former Spurs winger on the move

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It didn't take a genius to work out that Newcastle United signing a right winger would indicate that former Tottenham Hotspur wide man Andros Townsend had agreed a deal to leave the club. It is quite common that clubs line up a replacement before they sell a player. It makes business sense, otherwise other clubs know you are forced to sell and off a low fee or you get stuck with a player who you don't want.

Newcastle did just that completing the £12m move of Matt Ritchie from Premier League side Bournemouth before allowing Andros Townsend to depart for Crystal Palace. Perhaps he will fit into an Alan Pardew system. They activated his release clause that allowed him to leave should Newcastle get relegated, which of course they were.

Newcastle United managing director, Lee Charnley told the press there was nothing Newcastle could do.

"Naturally we are very disappointed to lose Andros but we are bound by the terms of his contract. 

"Given our situation in January it was a condition of him joining that we included a buy-out clause. However, I am sure now with Rafa as our manager we will not be in a position whereby we will need to agree to clauses of this nature in the future."

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