NEWCASTLE United have been “offered the chance” to sign Cherries winger Matt Ritchie according to reports from Tyneside.

The Newcastle Chronicle claimed Ritchie had been “punted the way” of United with their January signing Andros Townsend the subject of an escape clause in his contract following relegation from the Premier League.

It comes hot on the heels of speculation that West Ham had returned with a second bid with a value of up to £10million for the Scotland international.

That was a matter of weeks after Cherries boss Eddie Howe admitted the Hammers had made an “unwanted” joint bid for Ritchie and striker Callum Wilson, understood to be around £20million.

The Chronicle report does not directly link Cherries with a swoop for Townsend, who is said to be attracting interest from top-flight rivals Stoke, Crystal Palace and Watford.

Ritchie, who played a part in all bar one of Cherries’ league matches last season, has proved to be one of the biggest bargains in recent years having cost just £500,000 from Swindon in January 2013.

The 26-year-old netted 15 times as Cherries won promotion in 2014-15 and has gone on to win international honours with Scotland, scoring three goals in 10 appearances.

Meanwhile, Sky and the Bristol Post are reporting Cherries have accepted a bid of £2million for outcast Lee Tomlin.

Tomlin, who joined Cherries in a £3million move from Middlesbrough in August, was restricted to just 10 appearances before being allowed to join City on loan in January.

The temporary switch came just days after a series of posts regarding his future had appeared on his official Twitter account.

Tomlin proved a big hit, netting six times in 18 games for the Championship outfit as they avoided relegation.

The Ashton Gate faithful were keen to see the move made permanent and earlier this month, Tomlin fanned the flames by responding to a tweet from the Bristol City FC Supporters Page claiming a fee “reportedly for £1.5million” had been agreed between the clubs.

Tomlin replied “bad reporting then 1.5” and exchanged tweets with City kitman Scott Murray to indicate he wanted the number 10 shirt next season.

He last week posted on Twitter that “no official offer” had been made by City.

Tomlin has two years to run on his contract at Vitality Stadium and has been linked with a host of other clubs including Hull, Norwich and Newcastle.