---
title: "Benitez wanted to sign Palace’s Townsend this summer"
canonical: "https://readnewcastle.com/2018/10/24/benitez-wanted-to-sign-palaces-townsend-this-summer/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Ryan Darby"
section: "Feature Writers"
published: "2018-10-24T15:03:31Z"
modified: "2018-10-24T15:03:31Z"
---

# Benitez wanted to sign Palace’s Townsend this summer

Andros Townsend was one of Newcastle’s top transfer target this summer, it has been revealed.

[Writing for Chronicle Live](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-news-transfers-live-15319583), Mark Douglas explains that the Palace winger, along with West Brom duo Craig Dawson and Salomon Rondon were the two other key targets he wanted to bring into the club.

Townsend has long been linked with a move back to Newcastle after leaving the club when they were relegated to the Championship.

![Bryn Lennon/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readnewcastle.com/readnewcastle/sites/20/2018/10/1046561410.jpg)

After leaving Spurs for St James’ Park, Townsend quickly became a hit with the fans, but with ambitions to nail down a place in the England squad and play Premier League football, he was quickly out the door again.

The Magpies did manage to sign Rondon, who joined on loan from West Brom with Dwight Gayle heading in the opposite direction.

However, they missed out on Dawson, who remained at West Brom, despite handing in a transfer request and being heavily linked with a move away.

Learning the identity of Newcastle’s key summer targets will only add to the frustrations of the club’s supporters, with the January window just around the corner.