Atsu: Focus on promotion not my future
CHRISTIAN Atsu insists his longterm future at Newcastle United must wait until the end of the season, because the sole focus for now is on securing promotion.
The 25-year-old winger is nearing the end of his seasonlong loan deal and the Magpies have first option on signing the Ghanaian permanently from Chelsea if they do return to the Premier League.
Rafa Benitez has regularly stated this term that the Magpies do not need to rush into making a decision over whether to keep Atsu beyond the end of the campaign, and that the club will make a decision once the season is over.
And Atsu - who has scored three goals and provided two assists during 28 Championship appearances for the Magpies, only 11 of which have been as a starter - has echoed his manager’s message about not having to rush into a firm commitment.
“I am just focused on the coming games,” Atsu replied when asked about his long-term Newcastle future.
“We have a number of games left and we want to win promotion. “I am just focusing on that. “We just want to keep hoping and fighting this season, then we will think about this.”
Atsu joined Chelsea in 2013 from Porto but has never made an appearance for his parent club, instead being sent on loan five times.
Successful spells at Vitesse Arnhem and Malaga were split either side of disappointing stints at Everton and AFC Bournemouth, before his summer move to Tyneside.
Pushed as to whether he wanted to make his move to Newcastle permanent, Atsu replied: “We will see what happens after the season.
“We have fought so hard this season - this is what we wanted.
“We want to keep winning games. We do not want to give away what we have fought for from the start of the season.
“For that reason we will keep working hard, keep fighting.”