Newcastle could sign James Trafford AND Ewen Jaouen as Pope attracts interest - Report
Newcastle United appear to be closing in on their first signing of the summer as 20-year-old goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen looks set to be on his way from Stade Reims.
Depending on where you look, the deal is either done or close to being done. The bottom line is that the deal is expected to go ahead, and Jaouen is expected on Tyneside early next week.
A deal worth around £24 million has reportedly been agreed, but the question many fans have his whether Ewen Jaouen will be our only addition to the goalkeeper pool this summer.
Newcastle have already said goodbye to three goalkeepers since the season ended, with John Ruddy and Max Thompson's contracts expiring, while Aaron Ramsdale has returned to Southampton. Odysseas Vlachodimos is hoping to make his move to Sevilla permanent, although whatever happens there, it's clear the Greek stopper has no future at Newcastle.
Pope exit could lead to THIRD Trafford bid
All of the above leaves Nick Pope as the only senior goalkeeper, other than Mark Gillespie, who remains at the club in nothing more than a training capacity.
In a piece highlighting our growing interest in Osasuna winger Victor Munoz, The Telegraph's Luke Edwards reports that Newcastle could recruit another first-team goalkeeper in the summer.
It's thought Nick Pope has a decision to make - stay and fight for his place or accept a No.1 role elsewhere - and Edwards states that a third attempt to land Man City's James Trafford is on the cards should Pope depart.
Ewen Jaouen will compete for the first-choice berth, but it's becoming increasingly clear that Newcastle want an established goalkeeper to battle for that spot with 20-year-old, who may take time to develop into a top-level Premier League stopper.
Nick Pope has his admirers
After links with Leeds yesterday, The Telegraph also reports that Ipswich Town are interested in signing Pope following promotion back to the Premier League.
If he is sold, does that leave us short even if another keeper is brought in? Newcastle had a wealth of goalkeepers over the last couple of seasons, some might say too many, but we're going from one extreme to the other, potentially.
Ewen Jaouen and another top goalkeeper should be enough, with the latter needed to ensure the Frenchman isn't thrown into the deep end too soon in his career.
What's really good about this Jaouen move is that it's showing good intentions from Ross Wilson. Eddie Howe demanded quick signings, and Wilson appears to be delivering. Let's hope he can keep up this pace.
