Newcastle United player could be about to join Isaac Hayden in the Championship

Preston North End are reportedly in talks with Newcastle United over signing goalkeeper Freddie Woodman.

The 25-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at Bournemouth, though he failed to make a league appearance as the South Coast club sealed a return to the Premier League.

With both Martin Dubravka (injured) and Karl Darlow (Covid-19) unavailable, Woodman actually began the 2021/22 campaign as United’s number one instead of joining the Cherries as planned in the summer.

He started the opening five games but was swiftly replaced when Darlow returned.

The Magpies won’t stand in Woodman’s way this summer, with the former England under-20s World Cup winner remaining third choice, and that is without another goalkeeper potentially arriving in the coming months.

Preston are reportedly interested in signing Woodman after Declan Rudd’s retirement left the Lilywhites side without a senior goalkeeper on their books.

Despite his Bournemouth disappointment, Woodman has impressed at Championship level after enjoying a two-year loan spell at Swansea City.

What Eddie Howe said about Freddie Woodman’s future

Asked about Woodman’s future last month, Magpies head coach Eddie Howe said: “Goalkeeper is the hardest position in the sense that Freddie went on loan, but I know Mark Travers very well, and he’s an outstanding goalkeeper.

“His game probably kicked on to another level from having Freddie behind him, so it was difficult for Freddie to get any game time, which was obviously a disappointment for us and for him.

“He’s an outstanding young goalkeeper. We’ll be sitting down with Freddie to discuss what his next step is. But at this moment in time, it’s difficult to say.”