Double Newcastle signing kills Arsenal transfer hopes | OneFootball

Newcastle United’s interest in Aaron Ramsdale appeared to officially come to an end as they announced the sigings of John Ruddy and Odysseas Vlachodimos this week.

John Ruddy signing for Newcastle United (Photo via NUFC on Twitter)

Newcastle United had been linked with a move for Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale earlier this year, with the Gunners’ shotstopper widely expected to be on the move this summer.

Yet any lingering hopes of that transfer have evaporated in the last 24 hours, with Newcastle first announcing the signing of Odysseas Vlachodimos from Nottingham Forest, then the signing of John Ruddy from Birmingham City.

With Nick Pope, Martin Dubravka, and Mark Gillespie also still on the books, Newcastle now appear to have too many goalkeepers, but there’s uncertainty about Dubravka’s future and Gillespie is only on a short contract.

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND: Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope receives treatment for a shoulder injury which forces him to leave the field during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester United at St. James Park on December 02, 2023. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

The Athletic had previously reported that Newcastle’s approach to a goalkeeper signing had changed due to their failure to qualify for European football.

Rather than looking to replace Pope, Newcastle searched for backups to the England international, initially eyeing Burnley’s James Trafford.

The deals for Vlachodimos and Ruddy certainly seem to fall more into that category rather than being serious competition for Pope’s starting spot.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Aaron Ramsdale of Arsenal celebrates victory in the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Brentford FC at Emirates Stadium on March 09, 2024. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Ramsdale made 11 appearances in 2023/24, losing his starting spot to on-loan David Raya. Raya is set to join permanently from Brentford this summer.

For the time being, Ramsdale and Raya are away at Euro 2024, with both of their national teams in the quarter-finals of the competition.