Stars aligning for Newcastle to sign world-class Pope replacement

Robin Bairner

• 8 Dec 2023 13:57 GMT
• 3 min read

Newcastle may have played down their need to replace Nick Pope in the January transfer window, but the Premier League challengers should perhaps reconsider their stance as a leading goalkeeper could soon be on the market.

Gianluigi Donnarumma of PSG is rated as the keeper with the second most potential in the world game, yet the Italian finds himself under pressure at Parc des Princes.

A string of errors from the former Milan shot-stopper have seen him suffer a fall from grace in the French capital, where his ability to play with the ball at his feet has been particularly called into question since the start of the season.

Last weekend, he was dismissed for a clumsy challenge early in a Ligue 1 match away to Le Havre, leaving his side to win 2-0 with 10 men.

This also paved the way for Arnau Tenas to make his PSG debut in an action that could be the beginning of the end for Donnarumma in Paris. Tenas came into the team and looked far more adept to playing in Luis Enrique’s system and even made a string of good saves.

Keylor Navas, who is out injured just now, also retains a high rating in the eyes of the fans.

Indeed, a recent poll on FootMercato showed that just 17% of fans want Donnarumma to start, with Navas polling 53% and Tenas 31%.

Why Newcastle should move now

All this would hardly encourage Newcastle to make a move, particularly since Donnarumma was culpable in the recent Champions League meeting between the clubs with a weak parry that allowed Alexander Isak a simple finish.

In contrast, Pope shone with a string of fine saves.

Yet data analytics experts SciSports still believe Donnarumma has a huge future in the game. Its model gives him a potential rating of 121, which trails only Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson, whose potential is 129.6 and whose current ability sits at 127.3.

With Donnarumma’s stock low in Paris, this could be the ideal chance for Newcastle to move for a long-term upgrade for Pope while giving the current team a strong replacement in the interim period.