NEWCASTLE United and Cherries have “opened discussions” over a potential swap deal for Matt Ritchie and Joshua King, according to The Sun.

The tabloid claims any deal would see Newcastle send winger Ritchie back to Vitality Stadium and also pay cash in order to bring frontman King to Tyneside.

Signing a striker is believed to be a priority for Rafael Benitez this summer. And the Sun claimed in April that King was top of the Spaniard’s targets.

However, The Evening Chronicle reports the rumour regarding a swap deal “needs to be approached with healthy scepticism”.

The newspaper says “there has been no indication” Benitez has considered parting ways with Ritchie and feels he is “an important member of his squad”.

Ritchie arrived at Cherries from Swindon Town in January 2013 and played a crucial role in helping the Dorset outfit earn promotion to the Championship and then the Premier League.

Again a key player in the club's inaugural top-flight season in 2015-16, the Scotland international moved to Newcastle for £12million at the end of the campaign.

In November, Eddie Howe admitted it pained him to see Ritchie doing well for the Magpies, despite being pleased for the wide man on a personal level.

Ritchie made an appearance at Poole Speedway earlier this month, when he presented a bottle of champagne to newly-crowned British champion Robert Lambert and medals to youngsters who had taken part in a school football tournament at Wimborne Road.

Meanwhile, Leeds United are interested in striker Lewis Grabban, according to Sun reporter Alan Nixon.