Newcastle United will make changes to their goalkeeping department this summer
When Newcastle United were taken over in 2021, few thought ageing, backup goalkeepers would be high on the transfer agenda almost four years down the line. However, as the summer window kicks into life, there's every chance we see another veteran stopper arrive to offer dressing room and training ground support behind the scenes.
Last summer saw John Ruddy, recently released by Birmingham City, join Eddie Howe's ranks in that capacity to offer his wisdom and experience on Tyneside. Fast forward to present day and Chronicle Live understands the 38-year-old is expected to depart upon the expiry of his contract at the end of June.
Ruddy's departure would open the door for another stopper being drafted in, with the likes of Fraser Forster [37], Tim Krul [37] and Freddie Woodman [28] all being linked in recent weeks. The trio of stoppers all plied their trade for Newcastle earlier in their respective careers and surprise returns to St James' Park makes sense for one very specific reason.
As per UEFA squad rules, Newcastle must include eight 'homegrown' players in their upcoming Champions League roster. Four of those players must be 'club-trained' - meaning they were registered with the Magpies for at least three years between the age of 15 and 21.
Recent departures for the likes of Elliot Anderson and Paul Dummett mean Sean Longstaff is the only senior player in Howe's squad to fit that bill. As such, any of the free aforementioned free agent goalkeepers could be drafted back in to help Newcastle comply with UEFA's registration rules.
Forster is an intriguing option as his contract at Tottenham Hotspur ticks down. Injuries in north London saw the former Toon keeper drafted in for seven Premier League and four Europa League ties under Ange Postecoglou last season.
In contrast, Krul failed to make a single appearance for Championship side Luton Town as they were relegated from the second tier. Woodman featured in 37 of Preston's league fixtures last term but was ruled out for the final stretch of games due to injury, with the player now set to move on in search of regular, first-team football.
Forster, as such, would be an unsurprising signing in the coming weeks as Howe revamps his goalkeeping department. The former Southampton goalkeeper has even given the green light to a St James' Park return in recent years.
“If I could have had one thing in my career so far it would have been to have played one game for them at St James’ Park,” he told The Times in 2023. “To be a Newcastle fan, that’s every kid’s dream, to play at St James’, in front of 52,000.
"There as well it means so much being a Geordie and playing for Newcastle. That’s one thing I wish I could change.”
Forster joined the Magpies when he was 15 but made his name elsewhere, flourishing for the likes of Southampton and Celtic, along with spells at Norwich City and Stockport County.
With Ruddy poised to depart, decisions will be made over Nick Pope, Odysseas Vlachodimos, Martin Dubravka and Mark Gillespie. Howe has been clear he will seek to make changes to his senior stopper department after overseeing five on the books of late.
"The goalkeeper situation has been slightly difficult this year," Howe told reporters before the end of the season. "We have a high number of goalkeepers which probably hasn't been ideal.
"Those players have handled that situation very, very well. It's not easy. They have been really good professionals, all of them.
"They have created a really good team network and trained really well. They have helped whoever has been playing be at their best for match day. I am full of compliments for them. But let's wait and see."