Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale is no longer a top target for Newcastle, according to the Daily Mail.
The English newspaper claims that the England international’s “hefty asking price” has put off the Magpies from making an offer.
Up until recently, it was believed that Ramsdale and Valencia’s Giorgi Mamardashvili were the club’s two top options.
However, with Arsenal and Valencia demanding around £30m for their respective keepers, Newcastle have decided to look elsewhere to provide competition for no.1 Nick Pope.
PSR is influencing the club’s transfer business
While the Magpies do have pretty limitless resources due to being owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, they are having to abide by strict guidelines laid out in the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules (PSR),
In order to avoid a points deduction, Eddie Howe’s side will have to manage their transfer budget carefully so it appears that paying out £30m for either Ramsdale or Mamardashvili has been ruled out.
Newcastle are expected to target another England keeper
While a move for Ramsdale looks to be dead in the water, the Mail say that the Magpies have already identified an alternative in Burnley’s James Trafford.
The England Under 21 international is set to be made available for around £20m after the Clarets’ relegation from the top flight. Not all of the fee would have to be paid upfront either.
There is one major complication, though. It was reported earlier this week that Chelsea are also interested in Trafford. The Blues are likely to guarantee a starting place, which Newcastle cannot due to the presence of Pope.
It means there is a very real possibility that the Magpies will have to seek out yet another option if the 21-year-old chooses to make the switch to Stamford Bridge instead.
