Newcastle United are interested in signing Aaron Ramsdale from Southampton and it’s not the news fans were hoping to hear.
It’s been a summer to forget for Newcastle United, who have lurched from one disaster to the next instead of building upon last season’s success ahead of the Champions League return.
Rather than enhancing Eddie Howe’s options across the pitch, Newcastle have missed out on a laundry list of top targets and have only signed Anthony Elanga so far.
Alexander Isak’s desire to leave Newcastle is yet another cruel blow, which hit just as the Magpies learned they were missing out on key goalkeeper target James Trafford.
Nick Pope’s distribution struggles in the defeat to Arsenal laid bare just how costly losing Trafford to Manchester City could be.
In response, Newcastle are now eyeing a move for Aaron Ramsdale from Southampton.
It’s not a name that has galvanised confidence among supporters, especially given Ramsdale has been relegated from the Premier League with his last three clubs.
There are also concerns over Ramsdale’s temperament as a goalkeeper, but Howe actually said he had improved massively on that front in 2019.
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Eddie Howe spoke about Aaron Ramsdale’s character in 2019
Howe was Ramsdale’s manager when he first established himself as a quality goalkeeper at Bournemouth.
In the years since, Ramsdale has become renowned for his jokey character both on and off the pitch.
Back in 2019, the goalkeeper attended the League Two Play-off final between Tranmere Rovers and Newport County dressed as Teletubby.
When made aware of his antics, Howe actually explained how Ramsdale has improved striking the balance between his ‘joking’ and ‘serious’ sides.
He said, as reported in the Bournemouth Echo: “I don’t know whether that’s true or not, I’ve got no idea. But yes, he’s slightly larger than life.
“He’s a colourful character. It wouldn’t surprise me if that were true and that was him dressed as a Teletubby. That wouldn’t surprise me.
“I think the big thing from Aaron’s perspective is as much as he’s got that clown, laughing and joking side, there’s a serious side to his personality as well and that’s his football and that’s his goalkeeping.
“I think that’s where if I can say he’s made the biggest improvement it would be on that side, where from around the training ground and his day-to-day conduct he’s been absolutely on it.
“There’s not a day where he’s not taking his work seriously, he has done. Off the pitch then, as long as it’s within the rules and he’s not doing something that would affect his professionalism, that’s just his character coming through.”
If Howe is satisfied that Ramsdale will be focused when it matters, should he sign for Newcastle, then those fears can be put to rest.
In fact, Ramsdale’s personality might even come in handy.
Aaron Ramsdale could bring a needed morale boost to Newcastle United
Footballers are used to good players leaving and won’t concern themselves too much with things outside of their control.
Jacob Murphy insists the players aren’t thinking about Isak, whereas Kieran Trippier says there’s no point in him going on tour if he’s injured.
Yet, the morale at Newcastle can’t be high at the moment. Just as the club should be capitalising on a good season and aiming to really establish themselves as title challengers, they’ve gone backwards.
If anything, a positive character in Ramsdale could be a big benefit to the squad in times when nothing seems to be going right.
Speaking in 2019, Howe also added how Ramsdale’s attitude helped energise his team. That could be handy right now.
He added: “I think it’s a boost to have energisers and people that make other people laugh and that don’t take themselves too seriously. I think that can be a good thing. But it’s got to be all within reason.
“It’s got to be at the right times because as a position of a goalkeeper you’ve got such responsibility on your shoulders.
“You’re the one that everyone is going to look to go right, we need to be secure today, we need you to be trustworthy and make good decisions.
“That’s only going to come if you’re preparing well. That’s the biggest change in Aaron and I’m delighted with that aspect.”
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