Newcastle United are assessing their goalkeeping options ahead of the summer transfer window amid a season in which both Nick Pope and on-loan Aaron Ramsdale have split playing time between the Magpies’ posts.
Finding his name in Newcastle’s rumor mill is Brighton’s Bart Verbruggen, who is among the goalies whose names are linked to a St James’ Park transfer ahead of the summer window.
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The 24-year-old has been mentioned as a potential successor to Nick Pope, alongside Man City’s James Trafford and Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel, as Eddie Howe will need to evaluate his options in net and build a strong long-term plan for the netminder rotation.
Football Insider reported on March 14 that Brighton have placed a £50 million valuation on Verbruggen, a figure that has prompted debate over whether Newcastle should pursue such a hefty deal.
Speaking on Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness questioned the price.
“There’ll be a lot of pressure at St. James’s Park as the keeper,” Wyness said. “So look, we’ll see. But £50million seems an awful lot for a goalkeeper when I think there are other potential experienced candidates out there.”
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Wyness suggested that the structure of any deal would be key.
“But if they’re building for the future, it may be a deal to be done if Brighton will accept payments, etc. on certain performance clauses,” Wyness said. “But I still think that’s an awful lot of money for a 24-year-old goalkeeper.”
Newcastle, for one, are expected to be active in multiple areas this summer with a glaring need for a goal-scoring striker as well as defensive reinforcements on both flanks.
For two, missing out on European qualification is going to hurt in convincing players to move to Tyneside.
And finally, although Pope’s poor recent form has come under scrutiny, and the club has been linked with long-term planning in the position for several windows, paying the aforementioned figure while letting other needs go without addressing them sounds risky, at the very least.
For now, no formal bid has been reported, and Brighton surely are not under pressure to sell their young goalie.
