BREAKING: Newcastle United are seriously considering making an offer for player who was once valued £75M as they weigh up a bid to strengthen the team with a player of top quality

BREAKING: Newcastle United are seriously considering making an offer for player who was once valued £75M as they weigh up a bid to strengthen the team with a player of top quality

Newcastle United are eyeing a Premier League goalkeeper as a long-term replacement for Nick Pope in the summer.

James Trafford has been hailed for his performances at Burnley this season with the Clarets sitting in a promotion spot. He’s solidified his spot in Burnley’s starting XI after signing from Manchester City in 2023.

There’s a strange goalkeeper situation on Tyneside – it’s heightened in the last few days. There are several goalkeepers in Newcastle’s first-team squad including Nick Pope and Martin Dubravka.

Dubravka was poised for a Newcastle exit in January with Saudi Pro League side Al-Shabab the reported destination. Dubravka had an emotional moment with Newcastle fans following the Magpies win against Arsenal on Tuesday. It looked as if he was taking the time to bid farewell to the fans who had cheered him on for the past seven years.

Pope is out injured but looks set to return for Newcastle’s game against Bournemouth on January 19. Elsewhere, Newcastle signing Odysseas Vlachodimos now looks to be a signing to appease Nottingham Forest who like the Magpies needed to sell to avoid a points deduction through PSR.

Newcastle want Trafford who has kept 16 clean sheets this season. The shot-stopper has only conceded nine goals in 25 games this season. However, Clarets boss Scott Parker doesn’t want to lose Trafford.

As a result, Newcastle have planned accordingly and have identified a former Arsenal star as their next number one.

Newcastle planning move for Aaron Ramsdale

Aaron Ramsdale left Arsenal in the summer in favour of a move to newly promoted Southampton. Unfortunately for him, things haven’t gone to plan this season.

The Saints are currently sitting rock bottom of the Premier League, 10 points off safety. The arrival of head coach Ivan Juric hasn’t helped things either – Southampton lost 5-0 to Brentford with two of the goals coming from Newcastle target Bryan Mbeumo.

According to the Sun, Ramsdale is “highly likely” to leave Southampton in the summer if they are relegated – they aren’t alone though, the report states that there are a number of Premier League clubs on alert to the Englishman’s situation.

Ramsdale, who TeamTalk once valued at £60m, is still regarded as one of England’s best goalkeepers having kept 14 clean sheets for Arsenal during the 2022/23 season. He was frozen out of Mikel Arteta’s squad following David Raya’s arrival.

Although Southampton have been leaking goals this season, Ramsdale has made 55 saves so far this season, keeping two clean sheets.

Regarding Trafford, the report states that if Burnley were to get promoted from the Championship, they believe Trafford could be persuaded to stay at the club.

Newcastle need a long-term goalkeeping option

Although Newcastle’s goalkeeping department is stacked, it’s hard to see who would be the Magpies starting option for the next few seasons.

With Dubravka’s exit imminent and Pope yet to come back from another injury, it leaves just Vlachodimos, John Ruddy and Mark Gillespie as the only options available to replace them.

All players listed are over 30, they don’t have much longer left at the top level.

With Trafford only 22 and Ramsdale 26, it’s evident that they have enough time to become Newcastle’s first-choice goalkeeper for several years.

Whether it’s in January or the summer, sporting director Paul Mitchell is bound to be keeping tabs on the Magpies goalkeeping situation.