Newcastle United are clearly in need of investment after Rafa Benitez worked a minor miracle to guide them into the top half of the Premier League upon in their first season back in the big time, but appear to be operating on a sell-to-buy policy.

However, that approach could see them land Andros Townsend from Crystal Palace according to reports from the start of July, sparking a transfer triangle of wingers in the closing days of the transfer window. Football FanCast takes a closer look...

Townsend returns to Newcastle

Townsend enjoyed a successful period at Newcastle in the first part of 2016, joining Palace after he was unable to prevent their relegation to the Championship.

It was clear that Townsend thrived on the pressure and expectation at such a historic club and Sky Sports report that a £17m bid would be enough to secure his return to the North East.

Mirror Football, meanwhile, have more recently suggested Newcastle still have an interest signing the one-time England man, albeit describing the pursuit as 'on the back burner until something gives'.

Matt Ritchie to Stoke

Matt Ritchie celebrates

And that something could well be the sale of Ritchie. Sky Sports report that Mike Ashley will demand £15m from recently-relegated Stoke City for the wide man, who himself dropped down into the second tier to help the Magpies get back into the top flight in 2016.

Parachute payments may allow the Potters to go big and continue their spending, but the recent arrival of Tom Ince has surely taken a chunk from their budget.

Yannick Bolasie goes back to Palace

Bolasie moved to Goodison Park two summers ago but it is fair to say that the tricky wideman struggled to replicate his Palace form - even before the horrendous injury that sidelined him for an entire year.

Back to fitness and facing renewed competition out wide from Richarlison and Theo Walcott, Bolasie is reportedly a player Everton would be willing to let go.

In June, we asked Palace fans whether they would want him back and 90% of them said they would like to see him return to Selhurst Park.

Palace need to kickstart their summer activity and they could do a lot worse than securing the return of a popular player to replace the trickery of Townsend.

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