NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 14: Newcastle United Head Coach Eddie Howe gestures during the Newcastle United Training Session at the Newcastle United Training Centre on February 14, 2024 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
Newcastle United are expected to sign two goalkeepers this summer as Eddie Howe shakes things up between the sticks on Tyneside.
Nick Pope is expected to retain his spot as the club’s No 1 after returning from a dislocated shoulder, while negotiations continue for Burnley stopper James Trafford. Dropping further down the pecking order, Martin Dubravka could depart St James’ Park in light of interest in his signature, while Loris Karius has already said his goodbyes after Mark Gillespie signed another contract extension.
If Pope and Gillespie are in fact joined by Trafford later this summer then Howe will be left with the choice of promoting a young goalkeeper such as Aidan Harris from the youth setup or going out and signing another stopper to fill the fourth spot. In recent days Newcastle have been linked with surprising moves for the likes of John Ruddy, 37, and Asmir Begovic, 36, to fill that aforementioned void.
Ruddy spent last season with Birmingham City, who were relegated from the Championship. Begovic, who has plenty of Premier League experience, played 45 games for Queens Park Rangers as they finish 18th in the same league.
As such, neither transfer would get pulses racing in the north east. Both would have their practicalities but for a club with grand ambitions of being number one in everything they do, the arrival of an ageing, Championship goalkeeper would do little to satisfy the demand for big-name, exciting arrivals at Newcastle.
But even the top Premier League sides feel it necessary to make these types of signings. Just look at reigning champions Manchester City.
The Citizens were mocked when they moved to sign Derby County’s Scott Carson on loan in 2019 and the 38-year-old has made just two first-team appearances since penning a deal with Pep Guardiola’s side. However, he is seen as a crucial member of the top flight giants given his ability to help the less experienced members of City’s squad on the training pitch and in the dressing room.
“The best advice I could give to the young players is to stay around Scott Carson as much as possible in the locker room and on the pitch,” Guardiola said of Carson in 2022. “It would be better than being with me. If they spend a lot of time [with him], listen to him and pay attention, that is the best advice and learning they can get about their future careers.
“Every second he is training and every minute you get on the pitch and in the changing room [with Carson], you value. It’s like the young actors have to be with the old actors on the set. They are wiser and have the values of the profession.”
Manchester United have copied a similar tactic in recent years, albeit it in slightly different circumstances. David de Gea was the club’s first choice goalkeeper for the best part of a decade before he was replaced by Andre Onana but plenty of veteran stoppers have acted as backups during that period too.
