---
title: "Jason Tindall coy on Bournemouth’s links with ‘fantastic’ Matt Ritchie"
canonical: "https://readnewcastle.com/2021/01/29/jason-tindall-coy-matt-ritchie-transfer-rumours-bournemouth/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "Feature Writers"
published: "2021-01-29T15:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-01-29T15:00:00Z"
---

# Jason Tindall coy on Bournemouth’s links with ‘fantastic’ Matt Ritchie

Bournemouth manager Jason Tindall has remained coy on speculation linking the Championship club with a move for [Newcastle](https://readnewcastle.com/2021/01/29/jesse-lingard-rejects-newcastle-loan-move-in-favour-of-west-ham/) midfielder [Matt Ritchie](https://readnewcastle.com/2021/01/25/newcastle-fans-potential-swap-deal-philip-billing-matt-ritchie/), as per the [Bournemouth Daily Echo](https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/19047417.tindall-reports-linking-cherries-matt-ritchie-move/).

The 31-year-old [joined the Magpies](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36682424) from the south coast club in 2016 and he has since played [159 times for the Tyneside outfit](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/matt-ritchie/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/92469). The Scotland international has been [linked with a return to the Cherries](https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/19047417.tindall-reports-linking-cherries-matt-ritchie-move/) in recent weeks after finding playing time hard to come by of late.

Tindall told the [Bournemouth Daily Echo](https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/19047417.tindall-reports-linking-cherries-matt-ritchie-move/) when asked about the speculation over Ritchie:

> Listen, it’s wrong for me to comment on other teams’ players. I wouldn’t do that, I don’t think it’s right.
>
> I think everyone knows what a fantastic player Matt Ritchie is and how well he did for this football club during his time here.
>
> But I don’t think it would be right for me to speculate on someone else’s player.

The [versatile](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/matt-ritchie/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/92469) 31-year-old has seen his playing time diminish this season,[starting just six Premier League games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/matt-ritchie/leistungsdaten/spieler/92469) under Steve Bruce, and this could be a factor in a potential exit from St James’ Park.

### READ NEWCASTLE VERDICT

Although there has been [a definite decline](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/matt-ritchie/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/92469) in Ritchie’s game-time this season, the trustworthy Scot has still been called upon by Bruce and the manager would likely be unwilling to let him leave [without having a replacement](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-jetro-willems-return-19718480) to come straight in.

Still valued at £8.55m by [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/matt-ritchie/marktwertverlauf/spieler/92469), Newcastle could demand a reasonable fee for the left-sided midfielder and that money could go towards strengthening attacking positions.

A potential swap deal involving Bournemouth’s Philip Billing has also [been mooted](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/13831573/newcastle-billing-transfer-ritchie-bournemouth/), a deal over which some Toon fans may be doubtful given the Dane’s [status as a defensive midfielder](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/145277/Show/Philip-Billing) – a position in which the Magpies are [already well-stocked](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/23/Newcastle-United/squad).