Newcastle consider £30m Ramsdale alternative to avoid strengthening Arsenel
Newcastle are looking at bolstering their goalkeeping ranks this summer with Martin Dubravka’s future increasingly uncertain
Newcastle United will step up efforts to bring in a new, younger goalkeeper to compete with Nick Pope as they wrap up a double deal for Bournemouth’s Lloyd Kelly and Fulham’s Tosin Adarabioyo.
i understands that Newcastle believe a deal for defender Kelly has been clinched – despite late interest from Tottenham Hotspur – while “concrete progress” has been made on a move for highly-rated free agent Adarabioyo this week.
Manchester United have also shown an interest in the 26-year-old but Newcastle are understood to have been more proactive and an agreement could come as early as next week. It would represent superb business if Newcastle managed to clinch both free agents and plug the gaps created by the serious injuries suffered by Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles.
And i understands that Newcastle have held talks with Valencia over Giorgi Mamardashvili, the Georgia international goalkeeper who has been a long-term Magpies target.
23-year-old Mamardashvili, who is rated at around £30m by his club, is understood to be keen on moving to the Premier League but no formal offer has yet been tabled. The feeling in Spain is that one will arrive in the coming weeks.
Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale is another player of interest but the club may be wary of arming the Gunners with profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) headroom to fund a potential move for Bruno Guimaraes, who has a £100m release clause that expires at the end of next month. It is understood that Arsenal need to sell fringe players to fund ambitious moves but the prospect of spending £100m before the end of June is unlikely without substantial player trading.
Newcastle supporters have been perplexed by the club’s interest in a new goalkeeper but, as i revealed back in January, the department is set for a shake up with Martin Dubravka’s future increasingly uncertain. The drop-off in the club’s defensive record when he replaced Pope was marked and he is likely to move down the pecking order next season, even if his camp are hoping for a contract offer.
Although fourth choice Mark Gillespie has re-signed for another year, Loris Karius will become a free agent and while Newcastle believe they have an outstanding crop of younger goalkeepers in the academy, most of them, such as Max Thompson, who impressed at Northampton Town in the first part of last season, need loans to develop.
