Newcastle United are finally about to strengthen their goalkeeping department, having tried to do so all summer.
The plan was to buy James Trafford. However, Trafford has rejoined Manchester City.
That has forced Newcastle United to alter their approach, with Aaron Ramsdale set to join on loan. An agreement is in place for the 27-year-old to become part of the Newcastle United squad.
Newcastle will pay £4million to loan Ramsdale, while they will also have an option to buy him from Southampton next summer.
The goalkeeper is now undergoing a medical on Tyneside, having been filmed arriving in the North East via private jet by Sky Sports News.
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Aaron Ramsdale arrival surely means Martin Dubravka is leaving Newcastle United
That is great news for Eddie Howe, who wants more competition for Nick Pope. However, it is bad news for Martin Dubravka.
The 36-year-old’s future has been uncertain all summer. It has been dependent on someone else arriving, which has been uncertain in itself since the Trafford deal collapsed.
Dubravka was not in Newcastle’s squad that travelled to Asia last week. At the time, there was a renewed push to bring Trafford to St James’ Park.
He ultimately joined Man City, which raised further questions over Dubravka’s future.
However, the imminent arrival of Ramsdale surely means that the Slovakian veteran is on his way out. If not, he will be the third choice stopper at St James’ Park. That will not appeal to Dubravka, while Newcastle United certainly do not need six senior goalkeepers.
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The other goalkeeper Newcastle United need to move on
As well as Dubravka, the other goalkeeper Newcastle United need to get rid of is Odysseas Vlachodimos.
The Greece international has not featured for the Magpies at all in pre-season. Nick Pope, Dubravka, John Ruddy and Max Thompson have all played, but Vlachodimos has not.
While Newcastle are not going to sell Vlachodimos because of PSR, they do need to get him out of the club. There is no future for him at St James’ Park, so he needs to go and play somewhere else.
Having turned down the chance to go to Mexico, it has been reported that Vlachodimos would move to Spain. Hopefully Newcastle can facilitate a move there, as there is no chance of him getting any minutes under Eddie Howe.
With Ramsdale coming in and Dubravka likely to depart, it is vital that Vlachodimos secures a move too.
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