Leeds United are reportedly chasing Nick Pope to give Newcastle United a tricky goalkeeping dilemma.
A quarter of Newcastle United’s 25-man Premier League squad are goalkeepers. Ok, so Lewis Miley is not included in the data given his age, but 19 per cent of players being shot-stoppers has still evoked ridicule and laughter on Tyneside.
Five men can currently claim on their CV that they are a first-team goalkeeper for the Magpies. Nick Pope, Martin Dubravka, Odysseas Vlachodimos, John Ruddy and Mark Gillespie. And yes, that list is in a particular order.
Imagine during training, when Eddie Howe organises an 11 vs 11 game. Do Vlachodimos, Ruddy and Gillespie act as linesmen while Pope and Dubravka take centre stage?
And the ironic part about it? NewcastleWorld understands United are looking for another. Any arrival will not be to solve a PSR fudge or to meet a specific quota. What Newcastle want is a long-term shot-stopper who can dominate between the sticks for a decade or more.
James Trafford is the long-term target but Burnley’s promotion has cast doubt on the deal. Espanyol goalie Joan Garcia is another whose name will not go away but Newcastle face interest from Barcelona.
Should a young bull arrive, it only makes sense, to create a healthy, productive environment, that another is put out to pasture. Attracting attention from Premier League new boys Leeds United, now could be time to move Pope on.
The 33-year-old has been one of the Saudi-backed regimes shrewdest signings. For just £10million, Pope has formed the bedrock of a team that has twice secured Champions League qualification.
An insane clean sheet percentage (37 per cent) across all competitions is unprecedented. For context, all-time Toon great Shay Given averaged 29 per cent. The former Burnley man also denied Curtis Jones in the Carabao Cup final as nerves began jangling around Wembley.
But if the Magpies are to sign a goalkeeper for the future, why keep him here unsettled? Pope is clearly good enough to compete as a Premier League No.1 elsewhere. Dubravka is a solid backup and seems content despite dethroning Pope midway through the campaign before - some believe unjustly - losing his spot for the Carabao Cup final.
If Newcastle can recoup the £10million paid three years ago, the deal makes sense. For all the impressive traits Pope has, he still attracts criticism for his ability to play out from defence.
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First and foremost, saving shots is key. Few rival Pope in that regard. But if the Magpies can nab a keeper with cat-like reflexes who can start attacks with his feet, they would add a fresh dimension to the team.
This is not a demand to sell Pope this summer. In truth, if the England international is on the team sheet for the season opener, there could be no complaints at all. Rather, this is an argument for why offloading him now - as long as a goalie signs - may not be a bad idea.
It is time for Newcastle to get ruthless in the transfer market and Toon chiefs are beginning to recognise that. The PSR grip has softened and the vice can loosen further with a couple of shrewd sales.
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