Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
It’s a ‘pretty easy decision’ for Townsend
CRYSTAL PALACE and Newcastle United traded players yesterday, with winger Andros Townsend moving to London for £ 13 million and striker Dwight Gayle joining the recently- relegated club for £10m.
Townsend, who only just missed out on inclusion in England’s 23-man squad for Euro 2016, has signed a five-year deal at Selhurst Park, the club confirmed.
The 25-year-old former Tottenham Hotspur winger only signed for Newcastle last January in a bid to secure regular first-team football and save the club from relegation from the Premier League.
Townsend scored four goals in his 13 appearances at St James’ Park.
“It was a pretty easy decision to choose Crystal Palace because of the direction they’re heading,” he told the Crystal Palace website.
“They play a system that suits wingers and you only need to look at Wilfried Zaha, Yannick Bolasie and Jason Puncheon to see how they’ve excelled and how influential they are for Palace. I want to be a part of that and help this club reach its potential.”
Gayle, 25, has signed a fiveyear deal. He has been Palace’s top scorer for the past three seasons, netting 25 times despite finding his first-team opportunities at Selhurst Park.
He is Rafa Benitez’s second signing this summer, following the arrival of Gent goalkeeper Matz Sels. Veteran manager Barry Fry, who gave Gayle his break at Peterborough United, acclaimed the signing.
“He’s the most natural striker of the ball I’ve ever seen – right foot, left foot, good in the air, he’s got the lot.”
● Chelsea have opted against renewing contracts for strikers Radamel Falcao and Alexandre Pato, and goalkeeper Marco Amelia, the club said on their website.
Falcao, who signed on a season- long loan from Monaco last July, netted just once in 12 appearances last season and was sidelined through much of the campaign with a thigh injury.
Forward Pato joined on loan in January from Corinthians until the end of last season and will leave the club after scoring once in two games.
Amelia, who has never featured for the first team, ends his stay after joining in October 2015 on a free transfer.
● Spanish forward Nolito has joined Manchester City from Celta Vigo on a four-year contract, the side said yesterday. The 29- year- old, who played all four games in Spain’s Euro 2016 campaign, scored 39 goals in 103 appearances for Celta Vigo since joining the club in 2013, before spells at Granada, Benfica and Barcelona.
Pep Guardiola has already signed midfielder Aaron Mooy from sister club Melbourne City and Ilkay Gundogan from Borussia Dortmund.
“I’ll do everything that the manager asks of me, try my absolute best and do everything I can to try to repeat the form I’ve shown throughout my career at various clubs,” Nolito told the club’s website.
“I think that Pep Guardiola is one of the best managers in the world. He knows a lot about the game and he’s going to help me progress as a player and I’m sure he’ll get the best out of me.” – Reuters