Newcastle United respond to claims £17.4m goalkeeper has agreed to join them after Tyneside visit
Newcastle United plan to sign a new goalkeeper this summer.
Newcastle United have denied they are close to signing French goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen.
The Magpies will target a new goalkeeper this summer with neither Nick Pope or Aaron Ramsdale able to fully grasp the number one jersey this season.
Pope is set to end the campaign in between the sticks but up until recently had been dropped for Ramsdale following a series of errors.
Ramsdale, meanwhile, is only on loan from Southampton. Newcastle are not expected to trigger the £20million buy option to make the move permanent.
Newcastle United deny Ewen Jaouen reports
Newcastle have been linked with several goalkeepers already, but a new name emerged over the weekend.
According to Sacha Tavolieri, Stade de Reims goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen has agreed to join Newcastle after visiting the club’s training ground two weeks ago, and that a fee of £17.4million plus bonuses is being discussed between the two clubs.
Tavolieri wrote on X: “EXCL - Two weeks ago, Ewen Jaouen visited Newcastle United’s facilities. The French goalkeeper has given his agreement in principle to join the Magpies, where he would compete with the club’s number one goalkeeper.
“Newcastle are in talks with Reims over a deal worth €20M fixed plus bonuses. #NUFC”.
Although Newcastle are likely to be aware of Jaouen, suggestions of the player visiting Tyneside and a deal being close have been played down by sources close to the club.
Newcastle United still interested in James Trafford
Eddie Howe retains a strong interest in Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford, who he has come close to signing in the previous two summer transfer windows.
A fee of £27million was agreed with Burnley last summer but the Citizens hijacked the move after exercising their matching rights option. Trafford came through their academy before being sold to the Turf Moor club in 2023.
Twelve months earlier, Newcastle verbally agreed personal terms with Trafford but had to walk away from a deal after agreeing to sign Greek goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos as part of the PSR-swindle with Nottingham Forest that saw Elliot Anderson head in the opposite direction.
Trafford’s return to the Etihad Stadium was set to put an end to United’s interest, however the England international is open to leaving having largely played second fiddle to Gianluigi Donnarumma.