Newly promoted Premier League side Newcastle are still in talks with Chelsea about signing Christian Atsu on a permanent deal next season, reports Sky Sports.
Atsu, 25, spent the campaign on loan at Newcastle and Rafa Benitez is keen to secure his long-term services in a bid to help bolster their chances of Premier League survival next season.
The Ghana international has been a Chelsea player since joining the Premier League champions from Porto in 2013 but hasn’t made a single first-team appearance for the club and doesn’t seem to have any future under Antonio Conte.
Atsu has endured five separate loan spells away from Chelsea since his arrival but Newcastle are keen to take him off Conte’s hands on a full-time basis and have an option in their loan deal to secure his services for £6.2m.
The pacey winger only started 15 times in the Championship this season and was used as a substitute more often than any other Newcastle player (17 appearances from the bench).
Despite his sporadic involvement, Atsu did manage to chip in with five goals and three assists in the league, including two goals in his last three appearances.
For more stats on Christian Atsu, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
