Newcastle United transfer target issues teasing seven-word update after £35m deal claim

Giorgi Mamardashvili expects his future to be made clear “very soon” as Newcastle United consider a move for the Valencia goalkeeper.

The Magpies have extensively scouted the 6ft 6in Georgian this season, leading to suggestions from some Spanish sources that talks are progressing over a £35million deal. That has been heightened by the news that Valencia have moved to replace Mamardashvili with Stole Dimitrievski expected to join from Rayo Vallecano after undergoing medical tests and agreeing a four-year contract earlier this week.

Mamardashvili has since been asked about his future and teased an update in the near future. However, he insists his full focus is on competing at Euro 2024 with Georgia, who have been drawn into a group alongside Portugal, Czech Republic and Turkey.

He told Geo-Team: "My future will be clear very soon. Now I don't think about anything else, because I have an important tournament ahead of me with the Georgia team. Valencia is my home. They gave me a football career."

Newcastle aren’t the only club to be linked with Mamardashvili, who has kept 13 clean sheets in his 37 La Liga appearances this season. The 23-year-old also opened up on how he almost joined Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich last year.

"My transfer to Bayern Munich was almost finalized last summer,” he added. “My agent travelled with my father to Munich to look for an apartment. But, as far as I know, in the end they refused to pay 35 million for me.”

Movement is expected in Newcastle’s goalkeeping department in the coming months. Loris Karius will leave when his contract expires at the end of next month, while Martin Dubravka’s future is uncertain as he enters the final year of his deal.

The Slovakian made 30 appearances in 2023-24 while Nick Pope spent five months out with a dislocated shoulder. Following Pope’s return to full fitness, Dubravka was dropped to the bench for the 4-2 win at Brentford on Sunday and was subsequently left out of the squad for the post-season tour of Australia.

Mamardashvili would provide direct competition for Pope and at the age of 23 be viewed as a long-term replacement with the England shotstopper turning 33 next year.