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IT COULD BE A SUMMER OF CHANGE AT NEWCASTLE UNITED 14:00, 31 May 2025Updated 17:54, 01 Jun 2025 With the transfer window upon us, we're about to find out how Eddie Howe goes about
revamping his Newcastle United goalkeeping department ahead of the new Premier League campaign. With five senior stoppers are on the books at present, the Magpies boss has admitted things
may need to change in the coming months. "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." As it stands, Nick Pope is the club's No 1 stopper, Martin Dubravka and Odysseas Vlachodimos both face uncertain futures, while John Ruddy
and Mark Gillespie are responsible for providing support in the dressing room and on the training pitch. As such, goalkeeping targets have been identified with a view to shake up Howe's
team of stoppers come the summer window. United's interest has never gone away when it comes to Burnley's James Trafford but the Clarets' Premier League promotion will
undoubtedly inflate the goalkeeper's valuation. The young stopper was eyed by north east chiefs last summer when available for just £20m. Scott Parker has always spoken extremely highly
of Trafford's abilities and managed to keep hold of the player amid a Turf Moor fire sale last summer. There will be a similar attempt to again persuade him to remain at Burnley after
a record-breaking season in the north west and an upcoming return to top flight football. Meanwhile, on the continent, Newcastle continue to be tentatively linked with a move for
Espanyol's Joan Garcia. Dubbed one of La Liga's most impressive goalkeepers, the 24-year-old has been touted with Howe's side, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Manchester City and,
crucially, Barcelona. It has proved a confusing saga to date. Plenty of social media speculation has suggested a St James' Park move is close - something which is wide of the mark -
while there is a growing feeling Newcastle and their Premier League rivals' supposed interest is being used as a ploy in order to get Barcelona to make their move. Speaking this week,
Catalonia national team boss, Gerard Lopez, attempted to try and calm the noise around his international stopper. "I see him at Espanyol, which is the team he's under contract
with," he told reporters. "Having his people with him, who will advise him well. I've had the feeling that he's got his head on straight, his feet on the ground,
he's aware of the moment he's living in but also of the great potential he has. I hope that wherever he goes he continues with this progression, we have in Catalonia one of the
best goalkeepers in the world." Newcastle also been linked with Borussia Dortmund stopper Gregor Kobel and Southampton's Aaron Ramsdale, who is known to Howe. The option the club
opt to move for will become clearer in the weeks to come - but it looks certain there will be a change to makeup of Howe's GK department come the beginning of next season. _Here at
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