Newcastle United transfers: The goalkeeper position is emerging as a top priority for the club this summer.
Newcastle United will make signing a goalkeeper a top priority during this summer's transfer window.
The Magpies have been scouting France for potential goalkeeping reinforcements, with the club’s interest in Lens' Robin Risser well documented. Ewen Jaouen of Stade de Reims is another player who has been tracked, but claims from France suggesting Newcastle are in advanced negotiations to sign the 20-year-old appear to be wide of the mark.
In addition, Jaouen would be viewed as a replacement for the departed Aaron Ramsdale rather than an upgrade on current first-choice goalkeeper Nick Pope.
Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel has been described as a 'dream signing' for Newcastle, but a move is likely to remain in the realm of fantasy this summer after the club missed out on European qualification.
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NUFC’s goalkeeping problems
As Newcastle approach the fifth anniversary of the PIF-led takeover, the goalkeeper position has been a regular source of headaches for head coach Eddie Howe despite numerous attempts to address it.
Newcastle have signed as many goalkeepers as any other position since the takeover, with Pope, Loris Karius, Odysseas Vlachodimos, John Ruddy and Ramsdale all joining the club. However, only Pope and Ramsdale have made any tangible first-team impact.
While Pope has enjoyed a largely solid Newcastle career, the club have been looking for a long-term successor to their first-choice goalkeeper in each of the last two summer transfer windows, with his contract set to expire in June 2027.
On both occasions, they believed they had found that player in James Trafford. Last summer, a deal with Burnley was all but agreed before Manchester City exercised a buy-back option to gazump the Magpies.
Trafford had previously agreed to join Newcastle and remains on the club’s radar. The goalkeeper is highly rated by Eddie Howe and would be open to leaving City in search of regular first-team football. But he is currently away with England at the World Cup and would command a premium fee and wages.
The club confirmed the departures of three goalkeepers this week, with Ruddy and Max Thompson leaving when their contracts expire at the end of the month. Newcastle also opted against exercising a £20million option to make Ramsdale’s loan move from Southampton permanent.
But there is another loan goalkeeper whose potential return to Tyneside has somewhat flown under the radar.
£20m goalkeeper set to return to NUFC
Newcastle’s most expensive goalkeeper signing Vlachodimos spent last season on loan at Sevilla in Spain and has openly expressed his desire to make the move permanent. While it is clear his future lies away from Newcastle, he remains under contract at St James’ Park following his £20million PSR-motivated move and is set to return to the club this summer.
Vlachodimos will also have something of a Newcastle reunion this week during international duty with Greece, as he faces Anthony Elanga’s Sweden on June 4 before hosting an Italy side without Sandro Tonali on June 7.
As things stand, Newcastle will head into pre-season with a goalkeeping trio of Pope, Vlachodimos and Mark Gillespie, whose contract extension was confirmed earlier this week. However, that picture is likely to look considerably different by the end of the transfer window with several targets being monitored.
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