Newcastle United’s incoming transfer business may be finished, but the club has not completely run out of opportunities to resolve one of the most awkward situations remaining in Matthias Jaissle’s squad.
Veteran goalie Nick Pope failed to secure a move before Monday’s Premier League deadline and is facing the prospect of spending the first half of the season as Newcastle’s third-choice goalkeeper.
According to Chronicle Live’s Lee Ryder, however, the Scottish transfer window means a late escape route
through Celtic technically remains available.
“With both the Scottish transfer window and Turkish transfer window open for business today and tomorrow, slight interest from Celtic in Pope is still feasible,” Ryder reported.
However, there is an important caveat. Ryder added that Newcastle sources have played down suggestions that Pope will ultimately benefit from Scotland’s later deadline, meaning there is currently no indication that Celtic is ready to make a move.
Ryder suggested Celtic’s interest might have been stronger had the club qualified for the Champions League.
Celtic’s interest first resurfaced midway through August, with The Daily Record’s Mark Pirie last reporting, nearing the end of the transfer window, that the Scottish champions had shown “tentative interest” in Pope.
Newcastle spent more than £44 million (€51 million) combined on Lukas Hornicek and Ewen Jaouen this summer, while Pope has entered the final year of his contract. Previous possibilities involving Ipswich Town and Leeds United disappeared before the deadline, leaving Celtic as perhaps his final realistic immediate route elsewhere.
Now, Pope’s alternative of staying at Newcastle is particularly unappealing, as long as he cares about playing and not just earning his paycheck. Lukas Hornicek is Jaissle’s clear-cut No. 1 following his summer arrival, while Ewen Jaouen looks like the backup. That leaves the former Newcastle starter potentially facing months without competitive football unless injuries change the hierarchy.
“Pope could well end up being classed as the third-choice stopper for the first half of the season in what is a nightmare situation for the England international,” Ryder reported.
Should Newcastle make significant financial concessions to facilitate a late Celtic move for Pope, or simply keep him as experienced third-choice cover until January? Let us know in the comments.
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