Newcastle consider £30m Ramsdale alternative to avoid strengthening Arsenal

Newcastle United will step up their efforts to sign a new, younger goalkeeper to rival Nick Pope as they complete a double deal for Bournemouth’s Lloyd Kelly and Fulham’s Tosin Adarabioyo.

I It appears Newcastle believe a deal for defender Kelly has been agreed – despite late interest from Tottenham Hotspur – while “concrete progress” was made this week for highly-rated free agent Adarabioyo.

Manchester United have also expressed interest in the 26-year-old, but Newcastle have reportedly been more proactive and a deal could happen as early as next week. It would be a superb deal if Newcastle manage to sign the two free agents and fill the gaps created by the serious injuries suffered by Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles.

And I It appears that Newcastle have held discussions with Valencia over Giorgi Mamardashvili, the Georgian international goalkeeper who is a long-term target of the Magpies.

Mamardashvili, 23, valued at around £30 million by his club, is said to be keen to join the Premier League, but no formal offer has yet been made. The feeling in Spain is that we will arrive in the coming weeks.

Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale is another player of interest, but the club may be reluctant to give the Gunners room to maneuver under the Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) to fund a potential move for Bruno Guimaraes, who has a £100m release clause which expires at the end of next season. month. It is understood Arsenal need to sell fringe players to fund ambitious plans, but the prospect of spending £100million before the end of June is unlikely without a major player swap.

Newcastle fans have been perplexed by the club’s interest in a new goalkeeper but, as I revealed in January, the department is in for a shake-up as Martin Dubravka’s future becomes increasingly uncertain. The decline in the club’s defensive record when he replaced Pope was marked and he is likely to move down the pecking order next season, although his camp is hoping for a contract offer.

Although fourth choice Mark Gillespie has re-signed for another year, Loris Karius will become a free agent and although Newcastle believe they have a bumper crop of young goalkeepers in the academy, most of them, like Max Thompson, who impressed at Northampton Town. in the first part of last season they needed loans to develop.

Pope, who missed most of this season with a serious shoulder injury, is 32 and bringing in a younger goalkeeper on the rise would challenge him to replicate his best form while easing the burden. pressure on any new recruit to immediately adapt to the rigors. of the Premier League.

If Newcastle qualify for the Europa Conference League – which will happen if Manchester United lose the FA Cup final this weekend – Eddie Howe will have plenty of games to rotate his squad.

Newcastle also want a younger, versatile striker and have been monitoring 18-year-old Désiré Doué from Rennes. His agent Mikael Silvestre said I Last year Newcastle had been monitoring the player – and he is valued at around £35 million.

To continue recruiting this summer the club will also need to sell players, but the agent of Miguel Almiron – one of those the Magpies could consider leaving – has claimed Newcastle have turned down offers from their Premier League rivals .

“Other Premier League clubs have asked about him but Newcastle don’t want to sell. The Saudi market is booming. There may be news (later this summer) but he is comfortable,” Daniel Campos, Almiron’s representative, told Paraguayan radio ABC Cardinal.

Newcastle’s recruitment efforts continue despite the setback of Dougie Freedman rejecting their offer to succeed Dan Ashworth as director of football.

Freedman was Newcastle’s first choice but informed the club on Friday that he would remain at Palace. The club are now ready to go back to the drawing board with plans to nominate by the end of May now deemed unachievable.

As I reported earlier this month, the priority for the recruitment role is Premier League experience. They are also expected to appoint a performance director at a later date.