Newcastle still have unfinished business in the transfer window but it may not be over for the £10m signing who arrived in 2022
10:00, 03 Jul 2026Updated 10:03, 03 Jul 2026
The Newcastle United team line up ahead of the UEFA Champions League match with Barcelona
Newcastle United have a goalkeeping conundrum ahead of them when they report back for pre-season training at the KNOX later this month.
Despite talk of 34-year-old Nick Pope leaving Newcastle, with links and reports on a move to Ipswich Town or Leeds, circulating since the window opened, Chronicle Live understands there have been no offers so far for the England international.
After Odysseas Vlachodimos’ loan with Sevilla was extended, it leaves Newcastle down to a couple of realistic first-team options between the sticks, with Pope and new signing from Reims, Ewen Jaouen, set to do battle for the gloves in the early part of pre-season.
Jaouen jetted back to France after signing earlier in the window, expecting another goalkeeping addition to arrive, but that has not materialised at this stage, despite confirmed interest from Newcastle in Man City stopper James Trafford.
Trafford’s future is set to be decided after the World Cup with Aston Villa, Juventus and Brighton & Hove Albion keen on the stopper.
Pope ended the season as Newcastle’s first choice goalkeeper with the Magpies opting against a permanent deal for Aaron Ramsdale while Vlachodimos’ exit underlined Pope’s place in the pecking order. The dilemma would come if Newcastle do sign Trafford or a senior stopper, which was on the initial planning list, as Pope is unlikely to be content with a No 2 or No 3 slot.
After Pope was overlooked for the World Cup squad, it means he will be back after a complete break and will be back for early training and testing on July 13.
When recalling Pope over Ramsdale last season, a decision that sealed the ex-Arsenal keeper’s fate on Tyneside, Howe said: “Nick’s had moments where he’s not been selected before. He’s a high-class person. He thinks of the team first. He’s part of our leadership group for a reason, because the lads see that he’s a team player fundamentally. He’s been excellent, I have to say. He’s been excellent.
“You can put it into context that the role of a footballer, and especially a goalkeeper, can sometimes be very up and down. But he has to see the longer-term vision, which is he just needs to be at his very best, forget anything else about team selection.
“So he’s really focusing on his training and the fundamentals behind that. I’ve got no doubt with his attitude, with the work that he’ll do with the coaches, he’ll be back to his very best very soon.”
The former Burnley and York City goalkeeper has just one year left on his current deal at St James’ Park.
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