Newcastle United are actively pursuing the signing of Aaron Ramsdale from Southampton as Eddie Howe seeks to enhance his goalkeeping options. The Newcastle United manager is keen on introducing more competition for Nick Pope, which was initially the reason for targeting James Trafford.
However, with Trafford set to join Manchester City, the Magpies have shifted their focus elsewhere. Reports emerged on Monday that Newcastle is negotiating a loan deal for Ramsdale with Southampton.
It’s clear that Ramsdale will not be content with a backup role at Newcastle United. Should he make the move to St James’ Park, expectations will be set that he starts as a backup to Pope. Yet, considering his departure from Arsenal last summer was partly due to his desire for regular first-team action, the 27-year-old is unlikely to accept life on the bench.
In a revealing interview with BBC’s Football Focus in October 2024, shortly after joining Southampton, Ramsdale emphasized that he had no intention of being a substitute behind David Raya at the Emirates. “If I was sitting on the bench, it [winning a trophy] wouldn’t have meant that much to me,” he noted. “I just wanted to play football. As a kid I wanted to play football to play, not to just sit on a bench. Getting out and playing was my aim so I’m lucky I found myself here at Southampton.”
Should Newcastle finalize this deal, they will have two strong goalkeepers vying for a single position. Ramsdale’s presence would certainly challenge Pope, providing Howe with the flexibility to rotate his squad during what promises to be a demanding season.
Moreover, it seems Ramsdale has indicated his willingness to join Newcastle United. Reports from Fabrizio Romano suggest that he has already agreed to the move, likely on the condition that he will be considered Eddie Howe’s first-choice keeper.
For Newcastle, who want to strengthen their goalkeeping unit, this is a positive development. Ramsdale is a major improvement over Howe’s current options, even though he may not be the big-name addition that some Toon supporters had hoped for. Getting this deal done quickly will undoubtedly be Newcastle’s top priority, especially since they also need to deal with the striker situation, which is highly dependent on Alexander Isak’s future.
