Newcastle are now set to officially miss out on £18m player who Eddie Howe wanted to sign

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It has not been a successful summer transfer window for Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe.

While he has managed to keep his best players, there have been no major arrivals at Newcastle United that improve Eddie Howe‘s starting XI.

That is a big issue, and something that Paul Mitchell must address before the transfer window closes on Friday at 11pm.

It is very much a race against time, with Newcastle still aiming to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace. Mohamed Simakan is an alternative for Newcastle, with Toon officials very keen to bring in a centre-back.

There have also been suggestions of another goalkeeper arriving, with Newcastle re-entering talks to sign James Trafford from Burnley.

Newcastle target Aaron Ramsdale set to leave Arsenal

While that deal may or may not happen, a goalkeeper that Newcastle targeted before Trafford is set to join one of the Magpies’ Premier League rivals.

According to Sky Sports, Southampton have agreed an initial £18million fee with Arsenal to sign Aaron Ramsdale.

They report that the deal could rise to £25million with add-ons, as Ramsdale finally gets set to leave the Emirates Stadium.

Sky Sports add that he will undergo his Southampton medical today.

Interestingly, Ramsdale looks set to replace Alex McCarthy, who made a very costly error against Newcastle United on the opening day of the new Premier League season.

Eddie Howe wanted Aaron Ramsdale at Newcastle

Southampton are set to strengthen their goalkeeping department before the transfer window closes. And it is a deal that Eddie Howe will look at enviously, as he wanted to bring Ramsdale to St James’ Park earlier this summer.

Ramsdale was one of Newcastle’s top targets, while Geordie Boot Boys were told by HITC Football insider Graeme Bailey back in May that Eddie Howe was especially keen for the 26-year-old to arrive.

Bailey said: “Eddie Howe wants Aaron Ramsdale. He’s available. Howe wants him and I think Howe will get him.”

At the time, Newcastle were planning to bring in a goalkeeper that would challenge Nick Pope for a place in the starting XI.

However, that plan changed when Manchester United won the FA Cup, which resulted in Newcastle United missing out on Europe completely.

From that moment, the Magpies pivoted to Trafford, only for that deal to stall.

Instead, Newcastle signed a 37-year-old John Ruddy, whilst also spending £20million on Odysseas Vlachodimos to help Nottingham Forest comply with PSR after they gave the Magpies a hand by buying Elliot Anderson for £35million.

The goalkeeping situation at Newcastle United has been a real shambles this summer, and it will be all the more infuriating for Howe if Ramsdale goes on to thrive as a Southampton player.