Eddie Howe has not ruled out Nick Pope starting the new season as Newcastle United's first-choice goalkeeper, despite ongoing concerns about the position. The England international, 34, is believed to have the backing of the club's hierarchy after a mixed 2025/26 campaign.
Transfer targets deemed too expensive
Newcastle considered several options but deemed them too costly. Manchester City's James Trafford was priced at £50 million, while FC Porto's Diogo Costa carried a £51 million fee. Initial interest in Parma's Zion Suzuki did not progress.
Howe worked closely with Pope after high-profile errors against Marseille and Everton, reinstating him by the end of the season. Pope is regarded as a mentor and leader by staff and teammates.
No permanent deal for Ramsdale
A significant show of faith was the decision not to sign Aaron Ramsdale permanently after his loan from Southampton, as he was not considered better than Pope. Instead, Ewen Jaouen was brought in to compete with the former Burnley stopper.
Pope said of his future: "There will always be goalkeepers linked with Newcastle, whoever it is, that is part of the game. You can only ever focus on yourself and what is best for yourself and the team at the time. It was always far from my thoughts to leave, but there was no doubt in my mind about playing for anyone but Newcastle United. I could quite easily finish my career with Newcastle, I don't want to sound like an idiot but I feel like I am a really good goalkeeper and have played a lot of Premier League games."
Signing another goalkeeper would require finding a new club for Pope, something Newcastle have not managed this summer. The club are assessing all options, including keeping Pope, while also addressing other positions.
