Newcastle United are set to have a busy summer transfer window, but they must look to sign one player who has just won a major trophy.
The Magpies are eager to add another goalkeeper to their roster with John Ruddy and Mark Gillespie’s contract situations still up in the air.
There were reports that Gillespie is signing a new deal with Newcastle United, but there is yet to be any official confirmation on that.
Newcastle are eager to sign Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford this summer, having come close to signing him in 2024 before bowing out due to PSR concerns.
The belief is that Trafford will cost Newcastle £30m this summer after a sensational season in the Championship, keeping a remarkable 29 clean sheets in 44 appearances.
Trafford’s arrival would also mean question marks over the futures of Nick Pope and Martin Dubravka, the latter nearly signed for Al-Shabab in January but was convinced to stay by Eddie Howe.
With Newcastle in the market for a new goalkeeper this summer, they will have the chance to reunite with a former academy star who would help them in more ways than one.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Newcastle United could re-sign Fraser Forster as free agency looms
Former Newcastle shot-stopper and local lad Fraser Forster has had a remarkable career, winning several cups and league titles.
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Most recently, Forster was part of the Tottenham Hotspur team that won the Europa League against Manchester United on Wednesday night, adding another honour to his long list of triumphs. However, it looks like Forster’s Tottenham career will come to an end this season as his contract is set to expire.
At 37, Forster will surely be thinking about retirement, but he would be a huge asset to Newcastle ahead of their return to Europe next season.
Forster spent his youth career at Newcastle before signing for Celtic in 2012. His time at the club means he would qualify as ‘club-trained’ with the Magpies, something they have a severe lack of at the moment. Sean Longstaff is Newcastle’s only club-trained player at the moment, meaning they risk losing spaces in their UEFA squad due to their squad registration rules.
Signing Forster would give Newcastle more room to register players and see a former star who has done great things return to the club after winning a European trophy.
Newcastle United nearly re-signed a former hero in 2024
With European nights returning to Newcastle next season, the need to sign more club-trained talents is important, and something that sporting director Paul Mitchell will be well aware of.
It was something that Newcastle were also aware of last season, before they were kicked out of the Europa Conference League after Manchester United’s FA Cup win in 2024.
While they still looked set for a return to Europe, Newcastle discussed signing Tim Krul back to help them with their UEFA registration, but there was ultimately no need.
However, Krul will be an option for Newcastle this summer, just like Forster. Although Krul is coming off the back of consecutive relegations with Luton Town, Forster is undoubtedly the more attractive option for Mitchell.