Newcastle could launch bid for Real Sociedad’s Álex Remiro - Report

Newcastle United are on the search for a new goalkeeper for next season, with Aaron Ramsdale and John Ruddy both leaving the club in the summer.

Nick Pope hasn't exactly instilled confidence at the back this season, while Aaron Ramsdale hasn't done enough to impress during his loan spell from Southampton.

The Magpies have been looking for another goalkeeper for a couple of years now and have come close to signing young England keeper James Trafford on two occasions, only to miss out twice.

That's not thought to have put them off, though, and with Trafford likely to be on the move again in the summer, Newcastle are expected to be among the suitors for the 23-year-old.

Newcastle are eyeing Álex Remiro

Newcastle also have their eyes on Lens' 21-year-old stopper Robin Risser and Brighton's Bart Verbruggen (23). But a report from Mundo Deportivo in Spain has suggested that Newcastle are casting a wider net in its search.

According to the Spanish outlet, Newcastle and Aston Villa could launch bids for Real Sociedad's 31-year-old Álex Remiro, who is entering the final year of his contract at the La Liga club. Remiro has a release clause that was set at €50m (£43m) but drops to just €12m (£10m) in the final year of his deal.

Aston Villa looked at signing Remiro last season, so their interest is established, while Newcastle's is new. Barcelona have also shown interest in signing the Spanish keeper.

We have questions

Clearly, Remiro stands out from the other three goalkeepers Newcastle are linked with as he's much older than our priority targets. Which throws up a few questions for us.

We're not ruling it out entirely, but the age profile is vastly different to other goalkeepers we've been linked with. However, that could just mean we're looking to recruit more than one goalkeeper in teh summer. A younger stopper for the long-term and a more experienced keeper as backup.

That, of course, raises questions over Nick Pope and whether Newcastle will look to move him on. Although we suspect that with Ruddy and Ramsdale leaving and Odysseas Vlachodimos' future uncertain, it could just be a case of making sure all bases are covered.

Rumour Rating: 5/10 - We can't decide. It doesn't make sense, and yet it does. Also, at £10m for a goalkeeper deemed good enough that Barcelona were looking at him, it wouldn't be such a bad idea.