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Newcastle transfer news: Magpies close in on double signing of Crystal Palace's Dwight Gayle and Bournemouth's Matt Ritchie

Newcastle transfer news: Magpies close in on double signing of Crystal Palace’s Dwight Gayle and Bournemouth’s Matt Ritchie

Newcastle are closing in on the signings of Crystal Palace striker Dwight Gayle and Bournemouth winger Matt Ritchie, Press Association Sport understands.

The north-east club hope to complete the deals for both players before the end of the week and could confirm the signings on Thursday as they make clear their intention to try and bounce straight back to the Barclays Premier League following relegation in May.

It is also understood that Palace are poised to trigger the £13million release clause in Newcastle winger Andros Townend's contract and pave the way for his return south.

A reported £10million deal for Gayle has been agreed by Newcastle and Palace, with the 25-year-old scheduled to complete his medical on Thursday morning.

Gayle has scored 26 goals in 74 appearances in all competitions for Palace since arriving at Selhurst Park in a £4.5million deal from Sky Bet League One side Peterborough in July 2013.

Newcastle have also met the asking price for Scotland international Ritchie, reportedly valued at £10million by Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe, and the 26-year-old is scheduled to meet with Newcastle officials to finalise personal terms.

Ritchie was a near ever-present for Bournemouth last season, the club's first in the Premier League, scoring four goals in 37 appearances, while he netted 15 for Howe's side as they won promotion from the Sky Bet Championship in the previous campaign.

Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez, who signed a new three-year deal to remain at St James's Park at the end of May, is expected to make half a dozen new signings this summer.

The first of those was completed on Wednesday with the arrival of goalkeeper Matz Sels from Belgian side Gent for an undisclosed fee.

Sels, 24, has signed a five-year contract after the two clubs agreed a reported fee of around £4.5million.

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