£21m player that Newcastle United ‘liked’ has just signed for Chelsea

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Newcastle United have signed two goalkeepers this summer, but neither will truly challenge Nick Pope.

The Magpies have brought in Odysseas Vlachodimos and John Ruddy, with Newcastle United now boasting five senior goalkeepers.

But Nick Pope is the undisputed number one, even though there have been suggestions that Vlachodimos will push for a place in the Newcastle starting XI.

That is despite Eddie Howe wanting to sign a goalkeeper to challenge Pope. That was his plan at the start of the summer, with rumours of interest in Aaron Ramsdale and Giorgi Mamardashvili.

However, that plan changed when Newcastle failed to qualify for Europe, which led to interest in James Trafford. Then plan b was shelved when the Magpies brought in Vlachodimos, with that deal coinciding with Elliot Anderson’s move to Nottingham Forest. That was enforced due to PSR.

Newcastle United target moves to Chelsea

The goalkeeper situation at St James’ Park this summer has been very confusing, and now one of the Magpies’ targets has moved elsewhere.

Chelsea have announced the arrival of Filip Jorgensen, who has joined from Villarreal for £21million.

The 22-year-old will be competing to be Enzo Maresca’s number one, and should prove to be a signing for the Blues’ future as well as the present.

Newcastle ‘liked’ Filip Jorgensen

It is a deal that will disappoint Toon officials, as Jorgensen was a player that was on their radar.

HITC Football insider Graeme Bailey told Geordie Boot Boys earlier this summer that Newcastle United ‘liked’ Jorgensen, but he has now moved elsewhere.

He could prove to be another one that got away, while Chelsea might have their starting goalkeeper locked in for the forseeable future.

That was what Newcastle had hoped to do this summer, whether it was Jorgensen, Ramsdale or Mamardashvili. Any of those three would immediately have pushed and possibly replaced Pope, with Howe eager for someone to challenge the 32-year-old.

Even James Trafford would have arrived with a view to eventually becoming Newcastle’s number one in the coming years.

Instead, the Magpies are going to stick with Pope this season, which is not a major issue in the short-term. He was a big miss last year, and already looks in fine form. The hope is that Pope is over his injury problem, after undergoing shoulder surgery last year.

But Howe did want to secure Newcastle’s long-term number one, and Jorgensen was a contender for that position. However, he is now a Chelsea player.