In an exclusive in the Sun today they are reporting that Rafa Benitez wants Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton as his new goalkeeper at Newcastle for next season back in the Premier League.
And with rumors Rafa wanted Sunderland’s 23 year-old Jordan Pickford, who would not come to Newcastle, it does seem that Rafa wants to strengthen the goalkeeper position.
That’s even after Karl Darlow has had a good season in the Newcastle goal this term and Rob Elliot, now fully fit again, was the Player of the Season last term.
Heaton started his career at Manchester United and went out on loan after loan until he joined Cardiff City in 2010 on a permanent deal.
He stayed in south Wales for only two years before joining Bristol City for one year and then joined Burnley in 2013.
Tom has been a late developer but is now showing the form that made him a hot prospect when he was a youngster with the Red Devils and looked a really fine prospect.
Heaton has been outstanding for Burnley this season and is an excellent shot-stopper and has turned into a very good all-around goalkeeper who commands his box well.
He now has two full England caps having played for all the England Youth sides when a youngster.
The Sun are reporting that Crystal Palace are the other Premier League club said to be interested in signing Heaton.
The Chester born player is now 31 years old which is still fairly young for a goalkeeper these days, if they keep themselves in good shape and can go into play until they are 40.
It seems strange that Rafa would invest what seems to be like £15M Burnley will ask for their goalkeeper, before he has taken a good look at 29 year-old Tim Krul in pre-season.
Tim is working hard at AZ Alkmaar and has now played 16 games for the Dutch club he tries to regain his top form before pre-season starts on July 3rd.
Krul could still prove to be the best goalkeeper we have and he has vast experience in the Premier League.
But it’s looking like Rafa may now sell Tim to generate funds this summer and Karl Darlow and Rob Elliot will presumably be the other goalkeepers.
We expect 20 year-old England U21 International Freddie Woodman and 25 year-old new boy Matz Sels to be loaned out to Championship clubs this season.
Matz may even be sold if there is interest in his home country Belgium for him as Rafa will have a massive clear-out of those players who are now surplus to requirements as standards will be significantly raised for next seoans.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
81 comments so far
sparky55
May 5, 2017 at 9:09 AM
Comment #1Expat
At least you’ll be able to revel in his misery…it’ll be like watching out for the enemies scores every weekend…just like the toon and scum hahaha…a perfect scenario because we both know he’ll fail 🙂 🙂
Ibizatoon
May 5, 2017 at 9:12 AM
Comment #2Expat…Not sure what you’re whinging about. Pardew has gone to your rivals?
Surely that’s a gift? Not scared are ya? 🙂
expatmag
May 5, 2017 at 9:30 AM
Comment #3IBIZA
Would you want the prick wandering the streets of your home town, bigging himself up, hitting on all the young lasses and telling everyone here how he saved the mighty magpies from relegation and should have got the England job. I mean, him doing silly dances on the MCG or the Etihad is just something a decent man cannot take.
WWSBRD
May 5, 2017 at 9:32 AM
Comment #4Elliot was really player of the season last year? Shocks me everytime I hear that…shows how dire that season was I suppose
Ibizatoon
May 5, 2017 at 9:42 AM
Comment #5expat…Alan loves a trip to the white isle.
I’m hoping it’ll be too far from Oz.
Suck it up mate 🙂
Ibizatoon
May 5, 2017 at 9:42 AM
Comment #6Yo…Aye, he was neck to neck with Anita for it…
Jib
May 5, 2017 at 9:44 AM
Comment #7Toontaff22
still learning his craft
(sigh)
https://tinyurl.com/nx7xjom
Jib
May 5, 2017 at 9:47 AM
Comment #8Pardew will be a giant in the crock of shit known as A-League – Australia
WWSBRD
May 5, 2017 at 9:48 AM
Comment #9Ibiza
That gave me a shudder
Ibizatoon
May 5, 2017 at 9:52 AM
Comment #10Yo…Sorry, certainly wasn’t what I was trying for 😉
2 days people!
ShirebrookToon
May 5, 2017 at 10:02 AM
Comment #112 more sleeps to go! Can’t wait!
Ibizatoon
May 5, 2017 at 10:10 AM
Comment #12Shire…Or, one could make today the start of an almighty bender and then you could argue there are no sleeps left, and it’s actually being played today.
Who is getting the beers in?
hibbit
May 5, 2017 at 10:13 AM
Comment #13good riddance to the odious Wonga.
glad to see the back of them
magspuggy
May 5, 2017 at 10:16 AM
Comment #14@ ibiza
Thats a great idea.
Not quite sure what her indoors will say.
But im in
Hibbit.
Has the new sponser been named ?
Ibizatoon
May 5, 2017 at 10:17 AM
Comment #15mags…I’m glad someone’s on board. I’ll take a pint to get us started, cheers.
Tsunki
May 5, 2017 at 10:20 AM
Comment #16Crocodile Pardee.
“That’s not a defeat, mate- THIS is a defeat….”
hibbit
May 5, 2017 at 10:21 AM
Comment #17magspuggy
not yet mate but a lot of talk early next week ????
Jail for Ashley
May 5, 2017 at 10:22 AM
Comment #18Tsunki,
Ha ha 😀
hibbit
May 5, 2017 at 10:24 AM
Comment #19Tsunki
spot on……….. LOL
Ibizatoon
May 5, 2017 at 10:28 AM
Comment #20Tsunki…I like it.
Did someone mention Schteve earlier as well? I’d love to hear his Aussie accent.
ShirebrookToon
May 5, 2017 at 10:34 AM
Comment #21Ibiza
48 hour bender sounds good to me 😀
Ibizatoon
May 5, 2017 at 10:36 AM
Comment #22Now would probably be a good time for a disclaimer.
Ibizatoon in no way endorses weekend long benders. Always drink responsibly.
Now seriously, where’s my pint?
ShirebrookToon
May 5, 2017 at 10:36 AM
Comment #23Mctufty would be know as the wallybee down under in Oz. 🙂
expatmag
May 5, 2017 at 10:40 AM
Comment #24JIB
Yet another noxious comnent about a league you know ABSOLUTELY nothing about
Tbe A league in Australia is only 12 years old at a fully professional level. We know we are not the greatest but as a sport that is rated around 6th behind other sports, we are improving.
I wouldnt expect a moron like you to understand such cultures as this.
ShirebrookToon
May 5, 2017 at 10:42 AM
Comment #25Moyes is staying with the mackems next season.
expatmag
May 5, 2017 at 10:43 AM
Comment #26IBIZA
On the subject of Steve McLaren, his brothrr, Don, coached over here in Oz for many years. Hell of a nice bloke too. Not sure whether he is still here or not ghough.
Ibizatoon
May 5, 2017 at 10:46 AM
Comment #27expat…Didn’t’ know that. Tbh, I didn’t even know he had a brother. Was he any good?
Moyes…Probably not a bad call from then. Put another way, I’m not sure they’d get much better.
ShirebrookToon
May 5, 2017 at 11:00 AM
Comment #28Can’t beat it, went McDonald’s for a mcflurry and come out with a free sausage and egg mcmuffin. Great start to weekend 😀
expatmag
May 5, 2017 at 11:09 AM
Comment #29IBIZA
Yes. He was. Coached some top level teams here. He was a good mate of my senior coach, Lou Kastner at Karingal. Lou was back up goalkeeper for Australia at the 1974 world cup finals in Germany. Him and Don were good friends. Thus was in the 90s when Steve was assisrant to Fergie at Man Utd.
giimps
May 5, 2017 at 11:41 AM
Comment #30I would have thought the mackems could get someone young and hungry, not an energy vampire or skeletor lookalike with zero motivational skills.
I myself am pleased with this decision as it will annoy the hell out of about half of the population in Sunderland and will virtually guarantee a rough season for them next season (till they realise their mistake and get rid, hopefully too late to reach safety in the championship).
Did anyone see the banner with Ant and Dec on the gates to thestadium of shiite, “Mackems get ready to crumble” …..quite amusing 😉
G
May 5, 2017 at 11:41 AM
Comment #31Ibiza, great idea on the drinks. Which pub are we all meeting at?
cyprus
May 5, 2017 at 11:42 AM
Comment #32Rafa
What’s this about signing goalkeepers? Been there done that. Unless it’s like Hart or someone outstanding, the fellas we have are alright.
I’m sure you read this blog once in a while, as you do mention trends on social media. We’ve already given you the necessary tips, go to it my man 🙂
Oh, and Mike, the blog has finalised the magic number. It’s 120 😉
G
May 5, 2017 at 11:45 AM
Comment #33giimps, it’s funny you mention that. I was chatting to a mate who knows nothing about football (Sunlun fan!) about this the other day, and I was saying that it’s about time they took a risk on an ex player from the more recent crop to try and get the ‘keegan’ effect going down there. I remembered when we appointed Keegan the first time it was out of the blue, and by his own admission he had spent the last few years on the golf course not even watching football, however, for us fans at the time, the belief level went through the roof. Strictly speaking he was unqualified, and we were in one of our lowest ever league placings, but after Ossie left we thought things couldnt get any worse, and somehow just his name inspired us all and reinvigorated the city.
cyprus
May 5, 2017 at 11:46 AM
Comment #34You have to feel for Moyes. Built his reputation, rock solidly with one team.
Was lured by a glorious move, which he probably should not have taken, flunked, then flunked again and again.
How fortunes can turn.
hibbit
May 5, 2017 at 12:02 PM
Comment #35anyone confirm Ashley’s just arrived at Benton ????????
carl
May 5, 2017 at 12:11 PM
Comment #36Thanks. Personally I think Kylie Minogue does more for Anglo – Australian relations.
lesh
May 5, 2017 at 12:13 PM
Comment #37Hibbit
Ashley at Benton? Where’d you get that from?
one fine day
May 5, 2017 at 12:26 PM
Comment #38Expat ,
On pardew ..good to see old blighty still sending its criminals to the colonies .
More on topic a cracking weekend ahead as well as the champo shiny pot up for grabs ..we have the Sydney v victory final .
Saying that was at the sfs stadium today with work and the pitch makes some of the ones I played on in the north Durham leagues look like Wembley . Christ knows how bad it’s going to be after the Waratahs have played on it on Saturday night too.
Any way 2.1 Sydney my thinking berisha to get a consolation .
magspuggy
May 5, 2017 at 12:32 PM
Comment #39P45due as a ten pound pom ?
Im willing to pay the tenner upfront.
one fine day
May 5, 2017 at 12:37 PM
Comment #40Magspuggy,
They have tighten up on granting the 457 working visas in the last two weeks to create more jobs for those already here .
Hoping it includes football managers .
Not ready to have pardew ruining my weekends spouting his endless drivel about being a “fret”