Newcastle United’s second summer signing came somewhat out of the blue.
Indeed, during a period in which Newcastle were looking to sell players in order to comply with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules, they actually ended up signing two in the same position.
Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos followed Lloyd Kelly through the door at St James’ Park, before John Ruddy arrived on a tree transfer from Birmingham.
It was a reasonably surprising development, with Vlachodimos and Ruddy joining the likes of Nick Pope, Martin Dubravka and Mark Gillespie in a stacked goalkeeping department for Eddie Howe.
Vlachodimos is a Greek international and won titles with Benfica but has only made five appearance in the Premier League since joining Forest in 2023.
With that in mind, some Newcastle fans could be forgiven for not knowing too much about the 30-year-old.
Thankfully, former Wolves boss Bruno Lage – who worked with the player at Benfica – has provided some insight.
Bruno Lage shares what he really noticed about Newcastle new signing Odysseas Vlachodimos
Speaking to The Chronicle, Lage talked up the custodian’s professionalism.
“Ody is a calm guy. That’s the kind of player and man you want in your team,” he said.
“A good professional, a top player and a family guy. I never saw him complaining. I never saw any team-mates talking about him in a negative way.”
Odysseas Vlachodimos is looking to replace Nick Pope at Newcastle
Pope has been Howe’s first choice since the goalkeeper arrived in 2022. Such is the standing Pope has in Howe’s mind, the Newcastle manager was said to have been crestfallen when the shot-stopper suffered a shoulder injury in December.
Still, it doesn’t seem as if Vlachodimos has come to Newcastle just to make up the numbers.
In fact, sources close to the player have suggested he has come to Newcastle to compete with Pope for a starting berth, effectively replacing Martin Dubravka in the squad amid his links with a move away from the club.
Quite whether that’s possible for him remains to be seen, particularly with Newcastle linked with other goalkeepers such as James Trafford.
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