Newcastle United are reportedly not prioritising signing a new goalkeeper in the summer transfer window with other positions higher up on Eddie Howe’s wish list.
The Magpies had been heavily linked with a move for Manchester United 's Dean Henderson in recent weeks but reports from The Telegraph suggest that while the one-time England international is rated by St. James' Park bosses, the club are not looking to immediately sign a new goalkeeper this summer.
The report claims that instead, Howe’s side are aiming to add more options up front and a new centre-back ahead of the 2022/23 Premier League season starting at the beginning of August.
Henderson has spent the past 11 years at United but barring a spell in the 2020/21 campaign, has not been the Red Devils’ first-choice goalkeeper.
The 25-year-old won his one and only England cap to date in November 2020, playing against the Republic of Ireland in a 3-0 friendly win at Wembley Stadium, but has failed to play for his country since.
Henderson was completely left out of plans by both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick last season, not making a single appearance in the Premier League and suggesting that he could leave Manchester this summer.
Who should sign Dean Henderson this summer? Have your say in the comments section.
Meanwhile, Newcastle are still hoping to sign Stade de Reims striker Hugo Ekitike in a deal reportedly said to cost as much as £36million once add-ons are included. However, there is still work to be done on the move to sign the France Under-20s international who is said to have snubbed interest from Borussia Dortmund in preference of a Premier League switch.
The Magpies also hoped to complete a move to sign Everton and England striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin. However, it's suggested that the Toffees would not be willing to sell Calvert-Lewin to a direct rival, although a formal bid is still expected to be made.
At the back, Manchester City defender Nathan Ake and Lille centre-back Sven Botman have been both touted as potential targets for Newcastle, who finished 11 th in the 2021/22 Premier League after a brilliant run of form throughout the second half of the season.
The Telegraph claim however that sources close to the club have said that in the cases of both Ake and Botman, trying to arrange transfers for the Dutchmen have proved to be difficult. City are said to be holding out for a fee of £50m to sign Ake, who flourished under Howe at Bournemouth, a figure that is said to have put Newcastle off signing the Netherlands international.
Another name to be linked with Newcastle has been Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby, but while Toon chiefs are a fan of the French international, it has been claimed that Leverkusen want £60m to part company with the former Paris Saint-Germain forward.
