Eddie Howe will be fuming after seeing who Newcastle United could sell now

Add as preferred source on Google

Eddie Howe does not want to lose his key players at Newcastle United. 

At long last, it seems as if Newcastle United are in a position to finally start signing players again. 

Howe hasn’t seen the club make a first-team signing since the summer of 2023 but, now, Newcastle are confident they are in a strong PSR position. 

Newcastle want at least four signings this summer, while they will also hope to keep their leading players.

While change is a natural part of life and it’s not hard to imagine there being some exits this summer, the idea of losing one player in particular surely won’t be welcome news for the Newcastle United manager.

Indeed, Nick Pope has been a key figure at the club since arriving from Burnley. Leeds want to sign Pope this summer, while Newcastle plan to sign Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford. 

Still, just because Trafford arrives, that doesn’t mean Howe will necessarily want Pope to go. Based on his previous comments, he would surely be reluctant. 

READ MORE: Who is Nick Pope? Get to know the Newcastle United No.1 goalkeeper

What Eddie Howe has said about Nick Pope at Newcastle United  

Last month, Howe said he prefers the “giant” Pope to any other goalkeeper. 

Having seen the England international put in a fine performance against Chelsea in May, Howe said: “I mean, that’s what he does and for me he’s a giant man, but he’s also a giant presence for us in our goal.

“You’d want no one else in those situations.” 

Trafford, of course, is much younger and is coming off a brilliant season at Burnley. Given the club tried to sign him last summer, it’s clear there’s a lot of interest there and it’s easy to see why.

However, to cash in on Pope in the process feels a risk. Howe obviously loves working with him and while there are other goalkeeping options in the squad, not many of them convince. 

Martin Dubravka could leave Newcastle this summer, while John Ruddy, Mark Gillespie and Odysseas Vlachodimos have barely featured. 

It’s not to say signing Trafford would be a bad move, it’s just that selling Pope in the process would feel like a risk.

Newcastle United could now make transfer U-turn over Nick Pope

Pope isn’t perfect. There remain doubts about his distribution and 18 Premier League goalkeepers this season have attempted more passes (595). A goalkeeper more comfortable with the ball at his feet might help Newcastle develop somewhat.  

Still, in an ideal world, Newcastle wanted Trafford and Pope to compete for a starting place. 

That, however, now looks unlikely if the recent transfer news is to be believed.

Perhaps Pope is simply too good to want to operate in a system where neither he nor Trafford are guaranteed a starting berth. Arsenal had a similar situation with David Raya and Aaron Ramsdale and ended up selling the latter.

Still, if he is to go, it’s hard to imagine Howe being all too pleased.