Manchester United Eye Nick Pope as Potential Goalkeeper Target
Manchester United have reportedly shown interest in signing Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope to challenge current first-choice keeper Andre Onana. The club has not ruled out bringing in a new goalkeeper this summer, aiming to create competition for the Cameroonian international.
Onana, who joined Manchester United from Inter Milan in 2023 for a fee of £43 million, was once considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world. However, his performance at Old Trafford has been underwhelming, especially during the 2024-25 season. He made several high-profile errors and was left out of some squads towards the end of the campaign.
The club’s management is already questioning Onana’s future at the club. Recently, the Cameroon international suffered a hamstring injury during training, which prevented him from participating in the pre-season tour. As a result, he traveled to the United States for the Premier League Summer Series but is currently focusing on recovery ahead of the new season.
Since Onana’s injury, Manchester United have been linked with several goalkeepers. According to talkSPORT, England international Nick Pope is the latest name to be considered. Pope has been one of the most consistent goalkeepers in the Premier League over the past decade, making nearly 100 appearances for Newcastle since his £10 million move from Burnley.
The 33-year-old goalkeeper faced a four-month injury last season, and there are growing speculations about his future at St James’ Park. Newcastle, who won the Carabao Cup, have been heavily linked with Aaron Ramsdale, an England shot-stopper who wants to leave Southampton after their relegation to the Championship.
Matic’s Criticism of Onana Sparks Debate
Nemanja Matic, who played for Manchester United from 2017 to 2022, recently criticized Onana, calling him “one of the worst goalkeepers in the club’s history.” This comment came ahead of a match against his former club, where Onana had previously claimed that Manchester United were “way better” than Matic’s Lyon team.
Matic responded by saying, “If you are one of the worst goalkeepers in Man United’s history, you need to take care what you’re talking about. If it was Van der Sar, Schmeichel or De Gea saying that, then I would question myself. But you need to have cover to say something like that.”
Ramsdale’s potential move to Newcastle could increase speculation that Pope might be sold, as he enters the final 12 months of his contract. Leeds United had previously shown interest in Pope, but Newcastle held firm, and the club later signed Lucas Perri from Lyon for around £15 million.
Newcastle’s Plans for Goalkeeping Squad
While Newcastle are in talks with Southampton over a deal for Ramsdale, Sky Sports reports that the club has not indicated plans to sell Pope. Manager Eddie Howe, who is preparing for Newcastle’s return to the Champions League, is keen to bring in Ramsdale but wants a new goalkeeper to challenge Pope rather than replace him.
According to Sky Sports’ James Savundra, “Nick Pope has performed admirably for them over the course of the last few seasons but unfortunately he’s had a number of injuries.” He added, “Eddie Howe wants a goalkeeper to compete with Pope rather than replace Pope. You could have two England goalkeepers competing for the No. 1 jersey at Newcastle, knowing whoever gets it will have a great chance of going to the World Cup next summer.”
Manchester United’s Goalkeeper Situation
In Onana’s absence, Altay Bayindir has been Ruben Amorim’s first-choice goalkeeper during the pre-season tour. However, Bayindir has also been linked with a potential exit from Old Trafford. Manchester United have shown interest in Emiliano Martinez, but Aston Villa is asking for at least £40 million, a price the Red Devils are reluctant to meet.
Manchester United have already spent over £120 million on attacking duo Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. Their pursuit of a goalkeeper is seen as less important compared to bringing in a new striker. Benjamin Sesko and Ollie Watkins are being considered as potential targets after Viktor Gyokeres rejected them in favor of joining Arsenal.
