Tuesday was another roller coaster ride for the Toon Army. News broke that an agreement in prinicple has been reached for Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope. The 30-year-old is expected to wrap up a £10m move later this week.
On a sad note, Freddie Woodman has officaly departed his home of nine years. The 25-year-old has joined Preston North End on a permanent transfer which is an excellent opportunity for the young goalkeeper.
Some potentially worrying news comes via an update on Hugo Ekitike from The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards. He revealed calls to the player’s representatives have not been returned for the past week.
The 20-year-old is currently on holiday with the move to Newcastle in his agent’s hands. An agreement has been reached with Reims but the striker is being shopped around Europe.
While concerning, this may be the work of his agents trying to get the best move for their client. They could also be looking to cash in on lucrative agent fees which reportedly is a cause of contention with the Newcastle hierarchy.
France’s L’Equipe, by way of Get French Football News, are reporting that Newcastle remain in pole position to land the striker. However, there is growing concern due to the interest of some elite clubs in Europe.
PSG have been linked in recent weeks though they are in the process of poaching Christophe Galtier from Nice to be their next manager. They may not be ready to make a move until the managerial situation is sorted.
L’Equipe also claim Real Madrid see Ekitike as a future star and are considering making a move. Real Madrid have just added Aurelien Tchouameni of Monaco to their impressive group of Frenchman – Karim Benzema, Eduardo Camavinga, and Ferland Mendy.
They also claim Bayern Munich could pounce for Ekitike. Newcastle had seemingly fended off Borussia Dortmund, who have added Karim Adeyemi and are now going for Ajax’s Sebastien Haller, only to now see Bayern move into the picture.
Bundesliga writer Manuel Veth is confirming the interest from the Bundesliga champions. However, it could hinge on Robert Lewankowski landing in Barcelona.
Interesting story in L'Equipe regarding Hugo Ekitike to #Bayern today. As reported, #NUFC have a deal in place to sign the Reims talent but the deal has been stalled.
Source suggested to me that if Lewandowski gets sold to #Barca, Salihamidzic might go all in sign Ekitike. ? pic.twitter.com/UxmFWL5hWY
— Manuel Veth (@ManuelVeth) June 21, 2022
This potentially sheds light on why the move to Newcastle is being delayed. Ekitike’s representatives are exploring all options which may end up with Newcastle moving on to other targets.
318 comments so far
CLINT FLICK
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:17 AM
Comment #241Crownie
It’s a gorgeous day here, too.
Yummy!
Mund
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:17 AM
Comment #242😆 honest to foot man
YCMIU
Anyways…
Raj of Hailsley
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:18 AM
Comment #243cb,
A long day finishing on the beach I think.
CLINT FLICK
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:19 AM
Comment #244Mund
Tes mate, excellent value in the market!
Means we could spend big on the odd special player.
CLINT FLICK
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:19 AM
Comment #245Raj
Which beach?
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:20 AM
Comment #246The Dutch Bull Dog does not have an alt…. I use Peterfor that
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:20 AM
Comment #247Jail
I guess there’s a lot of factors in play a) attacking players are always valued more highly than defensive players or GKs b) Sterling and Mane are both regarded as world-class in their positions whereas Pope is probably regarded a level below that in his position c) I think Liverpool and Chelsea (and Burnley) would prefer a fee/any fee in the event that these players aren’t going to re-sign new contracts.
£35m for Mane or Sterling is still bloody good business for the buying club and it gives a wedge of dosh for the selling club too. Burnley on the other hand have just been shafted by us.
Raj of Hailsley
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:20 AM
Comment #248CF,
Shields, it’s roasting here.
niafron
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:21 AM
Comment #249We spoke of that Ekitiké news yesterday, but if you want the full french article:
https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Ekitike-un-profil-qui-ne-court-pas-les-rues-et-qui-affole-l-europe-du-mercato/1339720
I let you make good use of google translate.
niafron
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:22 AM
Comment #250Oh pardon, j’oubliais…
Bonjour Mesdames et Messieurs!
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:22 AM
Comment #251still disappointed in you lot. My best line ever “Is the Pope better than Jesus” not even a smile
Mund
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:22 AM
Comment #252Clint
Unbelievable value mate. Hats off to the owners pal they sure do look like they know what they are doing don’t they… 😎
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:23 AM
Comment #253who knows miracles may happen
Raj of Hailsley
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:23 AM
Comment #254Ruddy,
When a player like Veghorst says he’s not going to play in the championship what choice does he have if he’s contracted to them. He surely can’t refuse to play.
Tyran21
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:23 AM
Comment #255Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Diaby or Paqueta + McNeil for you? These two deal should round off about the same cost, excluding the wages of course. I’m going for the latter.
CLINT FLICK
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:23 AM
Comment #256Raj
Nice!
Enjoy it. I love a hot, sunny day.
Allotment for me, later tho, as i have other stuff to do first.
Raj of Hailsley
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:23 AM
Comment #257Peter,
Have you been in a coma?
Vask
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:24 AM
Comment #258Ruddy
Yeah I thought about if I’d take any more players from Burnley but I reckon Pope’ll do and get some others from elsewhere.
Clint
Ha! A likely story mate.
The Prince's Mate
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:25 AM
Comment #259We’ve now got the Pope, we’ve had the Messiah shame we couldn’t sign Jesus?
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:25 AM
Comment #260Jail
Burnley won’t want Weghorst in the Championship either though. He’s paid PL wages and if he wants to move on it’d be in Burnley’s interests to get him off the wage bill and recoup some of their outlay on him.
Then again, he could do a Mitrovic, go down to the Championship and rediscover some of his form that deserted him in the PL and become a club legend. I imagine the debate of who to trim from your squad and who to keep is a tricky one after you’ve been relegated.
CLINT FLICK
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:26 AM
Comment #261Mund
Agreed.
But what i like best is the fact that they don’t go blabbing in the press about anything.
How refreshing!
… oh! and they tell us stuff.
Mattroge
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:27 AM
Comment #262Morning everyone, hope you’re having a good day 🙂
Just re-posting this link from earlier as it really was a good read:
https://themastermindsite.com/2022/04/26/the-myth-of-nick-popes-poor-distribution/amp/
I have also pinched this from True-Faith:
A look at the stats show, that on the measurables from the Premier league site, Nick Pope is the better keeper. In 141 Premier league appearances Pope has kept clean sheets in 46 of those games, giving him a 32.6% success rate. Compared to Dubravka who has played 127 times in the league for Newcastle, and has kept 37 clean sheets, giving him a success rate of 29%. This would go to show the other stats available on the two goalkeepers that Pope is the better shot stopper.
The England has also made less errors leading to goals, with 5 compared to Dubravka’s 9. Pope also seems to be more adept at claiming high crosses, with 171 “high claims” in his time in the Premier league, whereas Dubravka falls quite short of that at 101. Now as with any stats there have to be a few caveats that come in. Pope has played more games than Dubravka, so you would expect some measures to be higher than the current Newcastle number 1.
You also have to look at the sides they have played in. The passing stats for both keepers tell slightly different stories. Pope has completed more accurate long balls than Dubravka (1249 vs 950). But how many of those accurate long balls landed on the head or feet of current Newcastle striker Chris Wood? Has the fact that Pope has had to make more clearances, take more goal kicks than Dubravka, show the sort of Burnley side he was in?
Basically we are getting an England international and possibly a slight upgrade on Dubravka for 10 million. It’s yet another piece of smart business. We’ve become so savvy in such a short space of time.
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:27 AM
Comment #263Jail i,g,,o,t s,t,u,c,k, with c,o,m,a,r ‘s
Raj of Hailsley
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:27 AM
Comment #264Vask,
I’d watched Cornet last year for my FPL team but his minutes seemed inconsistent. I looked them up when talking to The Ledge, he managed 90 only seven times all season and was subbed off on 45 a couple of times, whether that was due to injury of shite performance I’m not sure.
CLINT FLICK
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:28 AM
Comment #265Vask
I think you’d be surprised, bro’.
😀
😉
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:29 AM
Comment #266Tyran
Paqueta is the one player I really really want at Newcastle this summer so if I had to ditch the Diaby deal for Paqueta + McNeil (whom I really don’t rate) then I’d still go for the Paqueta + McNeil.
McNeil goes ahead of Murphy in RW but doesn’t dislodge Fraser, and in my opinion, probably doesn’t dislodge Almiron either so I don’t see the point in the McNeil signing. I’d prefer to sign Paqueta and go another season with Fraser and Almiron as our RW options in that case.
Raj of Hailsley
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:29 AM
Comment #267TPM trying where Pugalot failed. Haven’t the Jesus Pope jokes been done to death 😕
Tinos Vino
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:30 AM
Comment #268i reckon we have agreed to bring forward the instalment payments on Wood to get Pope for that price. Double help for Burnley with their cash flow
Vask
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:30 AM
Comment #269Clint,
Are you saying that you’re me?
Raj of Hailsley
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:30 AM
Comment #270CF,
Strolling down the coast now to the baths, it is sweltering, even right on the sea front.
Tinos Vino
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:31 AM
Comment #271and would then make sense why they are happy to sell to us specifically
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:31 AM
Comment #272Stats on goal keerpers are worthless. who was in front of him,?how strong the team? yada yada. With Goal Keepers, no stats just eyes on and make your own opinion. Pope not bad, I think it maybe more than even fight as to #1 at the |Toon. Dubs is pretty good.
Adamn_92
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:32 AM
Comment #273Mund
I did apologise for naming you and didn’t use your name in any negative meaning. It was just an example of someone who can get ‘jumped’ on by a few posters and was just pointing out that similar happens to Lesh. He’ll post a comment and if one person has a dig at him, it’s usually followed by a few others piling on. But yes, i’ll keep your name out but needed to for one clear example then.
Didn’t mean to start anything with my comment last night, was only an observation that a poster regularly gets a few having a dig at them when they post. Sometimes from posters who have shown displeasure at the very same thing happening to another poster. Was just an observation. Doesn’t take much to start something off on here though so I should have known better I suppose haha
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:32 AM
Comment #274Tino’s Vino
Good shout and probably true. Which makes me think that if we were interested in any other Burnley players we’d be doing such a deal now. I think our dealings with Burnley are done now.
The Prince's Mate
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:32 AM
Comment #275Raj, don’t know as I don’t frequent this blog as much owing to recent snipinig
The Prince's Mate
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:32 AM
Comment #276Sniping
Adamn_92
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:33 AM
Comment #277Pope seems like an incredibly shrewd bit of business. England international in the peak years for a goalkeeper and off the back of an impressive campaign. Not too much to choose between him and Dubs, so makes for an interesting battle for the number 1 shirt and keeps them both on their toes.
CLINT FLICK
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:34 AM
Comment #278Raj
Sounds lovely, mate.
Soak it up!
CLINT FLICK
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:34 AM
Comment #279Vask
Aye!
Vask
Jun 22, 2022 at 9:34 AM
Comment #280Jail
Yeah I noticed quite a few went for iscreaming over Cornet. From what I seen wasn’t really anything beyond average. FPL is an interesting guage for players.
Dennis is a good example of sticking with something even though it’s clear that it has peaked. In the last couple of GWs I dropped Salah for Son based on the lesson I learned from the wait and see if he rehits form method earlier in the season.