Newcastle United are set to sign Burnley and England goalkeeper Nick Pope as Eddie Howe’s first big recruit of the summer.
As soon as the 2021/22 Premier League campaign finished, the speculation began and some big deals have already been done. And we’ve all been waiting to see how the moneybags Magpies would enter the market and now we have our answer.
They have already completed the permanent deal to sign Matt Targett from Aston Villa and the big Premier League 2022 news this week is the move of Pope to St. James Park which is set to be completed on Thursday with a medical already scheduled.
Newcastle have been looking for a top-class stopper to challenge Martin Dubravka for the No. 1 jersey and Pope fits the bill after starring in six successful seasons for the Clarets.
With his sights on the Qatar World Cup, Premier League football is essential for Pope and the Geordies need top internationals in their side if they are to challenge for a European place next season.
Pope has consistently been among the best keepers in the English top-flight. Despite Burnley’s relegation, there were 10 Premier League clubs which conceded more goals, including Manchester United and, of course, Newcastle.
The Premier League 2022 betting odds will pitch the Magpies somewhere around the top seven or eight and, with Gareth Southgate’s preferred keeper Jordan Pickford playing for 2022 strugglers Everton, then a move to the North East may be the boost that Pope needs. He has conceded just one goal in eight England games, last appearing in a 3-0 win over the Ivory Coast in March.
Burnley’s relegation has inevitably prompted a circling of vultures around Turf Moor, and the arrival of Vincent Kompany as Clarets manager has seen an early change in philosophy at the Lancashire club. The ex-Manchester City star is looking to reduce the average age in the Burnley squad and introduce a more attacking style, playing the ball out from the back.
The move makes good sense for both clubs.
Cherries’ picking Fredericks
Newly-promoted Bournemouth are making a move to bring West Ham right-back Ryan Fredericks to the South Coast as head coach Scott Parker attempts to avoid a swift return to the Championship. The Cherries were relegated when Howe was their manager and they were famed for their attacking style of football but with defencive frailties.
The Hammers right-back has been released by the club and will be a free agent at the end of the month and Parker knows him as he played with Fredericks when they were both at Fulham in 2017.
Now at 30 years of age and with Europa League experience, Fredericks is the type of Premier quality which can give the Cherries a good chance of survival.
Gunners bid for Raphinha
Leeds United left it late to confirm their Premier League status, with the drama going down to the final ten minutes of the last game when they came through in a battling win away to Brentford.
Raphinha has been the best player for the Whites since their return to the top-flight and they are now under pressure to sell their prize asset.
The Brazilian winger is much admired throughout the Premier League and beyond, and Leeds will do all they can to keep the SBOTOP favourite at Elland Road. But Arsenal have made a bid to take the star to North London as Mikel Arteta targets an improvement on the Gunners’ fifth place finish.
They have already had an offer turned down and are preparing a second bid. If Arsenal meet Leeds’ valuation, then there could be a deal to be done.
The Whites have already made an exciting signing, bringing attacking wide-man Brenden Aaronson to Elland Road in a £24.7-M switch from RB Salzburg. Leeds head coach Jesse Marsch has a good relationship with the Red Bull franchise, managing both Salzburg and Leipzig over the past two seasons and he had no hesitation in bringing his fellow American to West Yorkshire.
The 21-year-old has a bright future ahead of him and he could be a ready made replacement for Raphinha.
But Marsch has more work to do, particularly if defencive midfielder Kalvin Phillips is tempted away from the club he loves.
The Elland Road outfit have already had bids for his services and, after starring at Euro 2022, Phillips has plenty of admirers including Pep Guardiola – who is looking for a replacement for Manchester City’s defencive midfield ace 37-year-old Fernandinho.
Leeds may be resigned to losing the 26-year-old in the coming weeks, which means reinforcements are urgently needed for the club to replicate its top half finish in 2021.
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