With Pope almost 34 and poor on the ball, rival Ramsdale signs a low-risk deal after missing out on top goalkeeper James Trafford to Man City. We expect that next summer we will be looking for a new number 1.
A renewed attempt to sign Trafford feels like a no-brainer now that Gianluigi Donnarumma has immediately taken on a first-choice role at the Etihad, but the iPaper report shows that City’s wages and transfer demands make it far from easy.
With that in mind, it’s interesting to see two names that have emerged as potential alternatives to the England talent, including Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel.
The Athletics report that the 28-year-old Swiss international is highly sought after on Tyneside, and could be someone who offers plenty of potential as a 6ft 7in stopper with 40 Champions League appearances to his name.
A less experienced but highly rated alternative could be France under-21 international Guillaume Restes, who currently plays for Ligue 1 side Toulouse.
The iPapers Mark Douglas has revealed that Newcastle scouts have been watching the 21-year-old in recent weeks, highlighting our ongoing search for top young European talent following Ross Wilson’s recent hint at shopping abroad.
Restes has kept five clean sheets in 15 Ligue 1 games this season and played for the French seniors at the Olympics last year, where he started five of six games, including a defeat to Spain in the final.
Trafford could make a lot of sense given our 18-month pursuit and his interest in making the move before Man City’s decision to re-sign him. But if our attempt to land him on the third attempt in 2026 fails, Kobel and Restes.
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