Newcastle United have been busy signing goalkeepers if nothing else this summer.
In a fairly ridiculous situation, Eddie Howe now has five goalkeepers in his squad and Newcastle continue to be linked with a move for Burnley’s James Trafford, albeit two of the current squad have been tipped to depart.
The identity of that pair is up for debate of course but Martin Dubravka has reportedly been told he can leave St James’ Park this summer.
Which one of the five join him in potentially leaving, however, remains to be seen.
Such is Howe’s admiration for Nick Pope, the England international would seem unlikely to leave. Mark Gillespie, meanwhile, has only just signed a new contract and hasn’t exactly been putting himself in the shop window of late given his lack of action, penalty shootout heroics in Australia aside.
That leaves only two, the pair Newcastle have signed this summer.
Odysseas Vlachodimos and John Ruddy have only just arrived but one is seemingly attracting loan interest already.
Newcastle’s John Ruddy already linked with move away from the club
According to the print edition of The Sunday Sun (page 55 on 28/07/2024), Championship side Blackburn are interested in making a loan bid for 37-year-old Ruddy, who left Birmingham this summer to sign a one-year deal on Tyneside.
Newcastle don’t plan for John Ruddy to ever play for them
Howe has spoken about the experience and leadership Ruddy will bring to the squad, though recent reports from The Athletic have suggested the hope is he will never actually have to play a first-team game for the club at this stage of his career.
To bring him in for his presence in the squad, presumably on the training pitch more than anything, and then let him go would seem strange.
Still, he wouldn’t be the first player to leave Newcastle without ever actually playing a game after signing, with Yankuba Minteh having done exactly that by joining Brighton…
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