Social442
Geordie Boot 1mo ago
Newcastle United are now considering a transfer move that makes absolutely no sense - opinion
Source: Geordie Boot

While Newcastle United have not made any major signings yet, it has actually been a busy start to the summer transfer window.

The Magpies have made three signings so far, while they also sold Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh to avoid a points deduction.

The PSR situation created a dramatic end to June, and things have been slightly calmer on Tyneside since then. Lloyd Kelly, Odysseas Vlachodimos and John Ruddy are getting to know their new teammates, as they begin pre-season under the watchful eye of Eddie Howe.

Newcastle's goalkeeper department has changed Out of the three signings that Newcastle United have made, two of them are goalkeepers - and both arrivals came as a shock.

Ruddy arrived on a free to add experience, while Vlachodimos has joined to compete with Nick Pope. Whether or not he can take the England international's place remains to be seen, but it was his move that came as the biggest shock.

The Vlachodimos transfer came about as part of Elliot Anderson's move to Nottingham Forest, at a time when it looked like Newcastle were going to sign James Trafford. The Burnley stopper was the Magpies' top target, with Trafford agreeing personal terms to move to St James' Park.

That move has not developed since Newcastle brought in Vlachodimos and Ruddy, but there could still be further changes in between the sticks on Tyneside.

What Newcastle could still do in the summer transfer market According to the Athletic, Newcastle United are considering signing another goalkeeper during this summer's transfer window.

The Magpies already have five stoppers on their books, with the two new arrivals joining Pope, Martin Dubravka and Mark Gillespie.

Of course, one of those could leave, with Dubravka looking likely to depart St James' Park.

Dubravka has been told he can leave, and a move away for the Slovakian looks extremely probable as he enters the final year of his Toon contract.

Signing another goalkeeper would make no sense for Newcastle But even if Dubravka does go, it would come as a surprise if Newcastle still signed another goalkeeper.

Surely Newcastle are well stocked in that position - unless they are going to sign a new number one and move Pope out of the club as well.

But that would be a shock, and represent a complete makeover for the Newcastle United goalkeeping department.

If Dubravka goes, Newcastle have four senior goalkeepers. That is more than enough, with Vlachodimos set to serve as understudy to Pope. The hope is that he will be good enough for that role, despite struggling at Nottingham Forest.

His arrival came out of the blue, but surely he would not have moved to Tyneside without the guarantee of at least being second choice under Eddie Howe.

That is why talk of another goalkeeper arriving is baffling, at a time when Newcastle United have plenty more pressing issues to deal with in the transfer market.