Newcastle turn to Lukáš Horníček in goalkeeper search - Report

Newcastle United are searching for a new No.1 for next season after giving up on James Trafford.

While all signs currently point towards Newcastle starting the season with Nick Pope as first-choice goalkeeper, the majority of fans are likely to have a meltdown if that ends up being the case.

The Magpies have been linked with several goalkeepers this summer but are yet to make any moves beyond signing 20-year-old Ewen Jaouen as a second-choice.

It now looks as though Newcastle were never really at the table for James Trafford, and despite being offered the chance to sign Zion Suzuki, no bid has been made by the club yet.

Newcastle looking at Lukáš Horníček

On Sunday, The Daily Mail reported that Newcastle had turned their attention to Braga's 24-year-old keeper Lukáš horníček.

The Czech Republic international has a £29.5m release clause in his Braga contract, which was activated by Hull City this summer, but he turned down the Tigers' advances.

Newcastle are yet to make a move, as was made clear by Keith Downie via X, but the Mail's report claims that if Newcastle are indeed keen, things could move quickly.

Europa Conference League or Premier League?

Horníček is a completely new name to us, so we don't know a great deal about him, but the fact that he's already rejected a move to Hull City does make us wonder if he wants a move this summer.

Braga are in the Europa Conference League qualifying phase after playing in the competition last season, so would he leave a club that could be playing in Europe next season to move to one that definitely isn't?

We'd like to think that he'd know that Newcastle is a far bigger club than Hull and bigger than Braga, but it all depends on whether he's ready to leave Portugal for Tyneside. 

Rumour Rating: 7/10 - It got picked up quickly by some big sources, so there's definitely something to it.