Newcastle United and Manchester United are battling it out for Benjamin Sesko right now, but buying a striker is not the Red Devils’ only concern.
There are plenty of issues that Ruben Amorim needs to address ahead of the new Premier League season. Securing a new striker is one of them, with Newcastle ahead in the race to sign Benjamin Sesko.
That is a blow for Manchester United, who also need to sort out their goalkeeper situation. Andre Onana endured an extremely difficult 2024/25 season, while he is currently out of action with injury.
In the eyes of former goalkeeper Ben Foster, his situation should force Manchester United to take a look at one of Eddie Howe’s stoppers.
Ben Foster looks on ahead of Wrexham's pre-season friendly against Sydney FC.
Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images
Manchester United told to sign Nick Pope from Newcastle United
With Aaron Ramsdale joining Newcastle United, there are question marks surrounding Nick Pope’s role at St James’ Park.
Following that deal, Ben Foster has said on his YouTube channel that he believes the 33-year-old should be a transfer target for Manchester United.
“You could do so much worse than getting Nick Pope,” he said.
“I think it would be a fantastic fit [for Man United]. I really do.
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“Man United don’t necessarily go all out straight play from the back. That’s not their style anyway. Nick Pope can still play out from the back by the way, I’m not demeaning him, but if you’re looking to get it to the forward areas as quickly as possible, Nick Pope’s your boy. He’ll stop goals. It’s as simple as that.
“Onana’s had this big injury at the start of pre-season. He’s looking like he’ll only get fit maybe for the start of the season. But you don’t want that from your goalkeeper. You want him to have had four or five pre-season games, weeks and weeks of training under his belt. There were also a lot of questions raised at the end of last season that he’s probably not going to be the first choice goalkeeper. Nick Pope will be looking at this and thinking ‘hmm’.”
What Eddie Howe plans to do with Nick Pope at Newcastle United
For the first time in his Newcastle United career, Pope has genuine competition for a place in the starting XI. He has always been Eddie Howe’s first choice, but that could change this season.
Ramsdale will challenge Pope, having joined on loan from Southampton with an option to buy. The new signing will not want to spend his time on Tyneside on the bench, and will be eager to get ahead of Pope in the pecking order.
However, Pope will be Newcastle’s starting goalkeeper for the beginning of the season. Howe is expected to retain faith in the £10million man when the campaign kicks off, which is only fair given how impressive he has already been in 2025.
That should persuade Pope to stay at St James’ Park. The role of starter is his to lose, despite the looming threat of Ramsdale.
With that in mind, Pope should back his own ability and remain where he is.