Aaron Ramsdale or Nick Pope? NUFC debate
Newcastle United latest news: One potential summer transfer is already in doubt.
Newcastle United goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos is currently impressing on-loan at La Liga side Sevilla. The Greek international moved to Seville during the summer after spending just one season on Tyneside.
Vlachodimos joined Newcastle United from Nottingham Forest in a deal worth a reported £20m in the summer of 2024. Vlachodimos’ switch from the City Ground to St James’ Park came just days after Elliot Anderson moved in the opposite direction.
The former Forest man, though, made just one appearance in all competitions during his debut campaign on Tyneside, coming as a substitute in their Carabao Cup win over AFC Wimbledon. The arrival of Aaron Ramsdale this summer spelled the end for Vlachodimos at the club and he was sent to Spain to get gametime.
During his short time at Sevilla, the 31-year-old has played eight times in La Liga. After spending the first two matches of his time at the club on the bench, Vlachodimos was installed as Matias Almeyda’s number one and has played every minute of each match since.
Vlachodimos has conceded 12 goals in those eight matches, keeping two clean sheets with Sevilla entering the international break sat 9th in the table. For a club that finished just one point and one place above the relegation zone last season, that is a marked improvement.
Odysseas Vlachodimos permanent transfer in doubt
However, despite becoming a regular at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium, there are doubts over Vlachodimos’ long-term future at Sevilla. According to reports from Spain, Sevilla may not be able to afford a transfer fee for the former Benfica man this summer, despite being one of Spanish football’s biggest clubs.
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That may change if Sevilla, who have a superb record in the Europa League this century, are able to qualify for Europe next season.
However, one quirk of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules mean that Newcastle United risk recording Vlachodimos’ sale as a loss on their books should they receive a minimal fee for the goalkeeper. Because of player amortisation, they don’t have to recoup the full £20m they spent on him, but it’s likely that they will need to sell him for more than the £5m fee that is being quoted by reports in Spainif they want to avoid that outcome.
Whilst Vlachodimos spent just one season on Tyneside and played a minimal role on the pitch, he did have a big impact in the dressing room and behind-the-scenes as part of a goalkeeping unit which helped deliver a Carabao Cup trophy and Champions League qualification.
Speaking about the Greek international last season, Eddie Howe was very complimentary about the impact Vlachodimos had made in the group: “He's been excellent behind the scenes,” Howe said.
“He's a really, lovely lad, a really nice person, he's got a really nice way about him, very smiley, happy.
“But you can see he's driven and he's a vastly experienced goalkeeper, so I think he's added a lot to the training group. He's been actively involved in all the training that we've done and he's become a really well liked member of the team, well-liked member of the goalkeeping team, but also the first team.”
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