Five goalkeepers Newcastle could sign in January

Suraj Radia

• 13 Dec 2023 12:04 CST
• 4 min read

Newcastle’s injury concerns have reached a critical level in recent weeks, with Eddie Howe facing a goalkeeping crisis after already seeing Nick Pope ruled out with a long-term injury.

Pope will be out for four months after suffering a dislocated shoulder earlier this month and Martin Dubravka has deputised in his absence, starting the last two games for Newcastle.

However, the Magpies could be forced to field third-choice goalkeeper Loris Karius against Milan in the Champions League, with speculation that Dubravka is struggling with illness as well as a shoulder injury.

Newcastle were not immediately looking to sign a goalkeeper in January but the concerns over Dubravka could force their hand and FootballTransfers looks at five keepers who could move to St James’ Park this winter to ease Howe’s worries.

David de Gea

A simple solution would be David de Gea, with the Spaniard still a free agent after leaving Manchester United in the summer and the 33-year-old is said to be keen on signing a short-term with the Magpies.

While there may be doubts over De Gea’s long-term value at the top level, no goalkeeper had more clean sheets in the Premier League last season and he remains an elite shot-stopper.

De Gea may be willing to lower his wage demands and prove his ability with a short-term contract, while Newcastle could gain a Premier League-experienced keeper on a free transfer to fill the gap in Pope’s absence.

Aaron Ramsdale

Perhaps it isn’t a surprise to see Aaron Ramsdale linked with a move to Newcastle given his situation at Arsenal and Newcastle’s precarious keeper issues.

Howe has always preferred Premier League and homegrown talent, particularly with January signings who need to slot in instantly and Ramsdale is believed to be the personal choice of the Newcastle manager.

However, Arsenal are unlikely to let Ramsdale leave for anything less than €40 million despite him falling behind David Raya in the pecking order – an amount Newcastle will be reluctant to splash out – meaning a transfer may be less likely in January unless things change.

Hugo Lloris

Another name which has been linked with Newcastle is that of forgotten man Hugo Lloris, who has been out in the cold at Tottenham since being replaced by Guglielmo Vicario in the summer.

Lloris’ last game was ironically against Newcastle, where he had a disastrous time and conceded five first half goals before being substituted in the final nail of his coffin at Tottenham.

Newcastle will certainly be wary of Lloris’ decline and may only turn to him as an emergency option if they prioritise a keeper better with his feet, even if his shot stopping has been questionable in recent times.

Giorgi Mamardashvili

The Magpies may also take this opportunity to sign a long-term successor to Pope and Giorgi Mamardashvili is one who has been repeatedly scouted by Newcastle even before their injury issues.

The Georgian keeper has impressed for Valencia since joining them in 2021 and the La Liga side’s ongoing financial concerns could allow Newcastle to push for a cut-price deal in January.

Although Mamardashvili’s distribution leaves much to be desired, the 23-year-old has proven to be an elite shot-stopper and reports have suggested he could cost as little as €30m.

Dean Henderson

Newcastle still have a domestic loan spot available and, while some reports have suggested that Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips will be targeted to fill that void, a temporary move for a Premier League-based keeper could also be an option.

Dean Henderson only moved to Crystal Palace from Manchester United in the summer but the 26-year-old has been a backup to Sam Johnstone and may be keen on finding first team football ahead of next summer’s European Championships.

Howe has been a long-term fan of Henderson and considered signing the England international prior to Pope’s arrival, meaning he could return for his former target once again in the right deal.