Newcastle United have a lot of business to conduct in the summer transfer window with some deadwood to shift and plenty of new faces required in many different positions.
One position that Eddie Howe is looking to strengthen is the goalkeeper. Nick Pope is currently first-choice but has been injured for a large chunk of this season with Martin Dubravka filling in.
For all Dubravka has given it everything, it has become glaringly apparent that he’s just not the right fit for how Newcastle play under Eddie Howe. His reluctance to come off his line has caused a world of problems this season as the Slovakian has leaked goals like he was being paid a bonus for goals conceded.
Third-choice ‘keeper Loris Karius is leaving at the end of the season when his contract expires and fourth-choice, Mark Gillespie – well, what even is the point?
Arsenal have set a staggering price for Aaron Ramsdale
Newcastle have long been linked with an interest in Arsenal and England goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale who has fallen behind David Raya in Arsenal’s pecking order and is desperate to leave the Emirates in search of first-team football.
Whether Ramsdale would oust Pope as first-choice at Newcastle is a conundrum for Eddie Howe to solve, although, if TeamTalk are right in what they’re saying about the asking price Arsenal have slapped on Ramsdale, it’s not going to be an issue.
TeamTalk claims that Arsenal will be asking for £60million for Ramsdale this summer, just two years after moving there for half the price. If he was still first-choice then you could see the logic, but they’re asking double what they paid for someone they’ve clearly deemed as not good enough? No, nah!
Ramsdale still has two years remaining on his Arsenal contract
Given that Ramsdale wants first-team football, all Mikel Arteta and Co are doing here is denying a young footballer the chance to progress in his career.
Ramsdale is still under contract at Arsenal until 2026 so they are in no rush to sell, but surely nobody is going to fork out £60million for a wantaway player who isn’t in a team’s starting XI. Newcastle certainly aren’t with their Financial Fair Play issues.
It’s a crazy move by Arsenal, unless the whole idea is to make sure Newcastle can’t/won’t sign him, which would actually make sense as they wouldn’t want to improve a direct rival, because we’re coming for you, Gooners!
