The £20million Newcastle transfer 'top of the list' as chairman's 'unusual' approach is noted

The summer transfer window doesn't open until June 14th - the same day that Euro 2024 kicks-off- but that hasn't stopped countless names being linked with a move to Newcastle United ahead of the new season.

From a new goalkeeper to a centre-forward, the rumour mill is in full swing, and on The Everything is Black and White Podcast, we will keep you up to date with all the gossip and hard stories over the next few months.

This week saw The Mirror's Simon Bird appear on the show as a special guest. Simon has been covering Newcastle United for 23 years, and few can provide better insight than him when it comes to the club.

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Alongside host Andrew Musgrove, Simon discussed the choice that Tosin Adarabioyo has to make with Chelsea now trying to hijack United's move for the defender as well urging the Magpies to get tough with any potential suitors of Alexander Isak.

Below are a few other interesting notes from the episode.

Newcastle United need a new goalkeeper but will they spend big?

Nick Pope is back fighting fit after five months out of action and his return to action against Brentford was a timely reminder of what he offers between the sticks. The view point of many is that United would have finished much higher up the table had Pope not suffered injury against Manchester United back in December where he dislocated his shoulder.

But now he is fit, are Newcastle about to go and sign a new goalkeeper? It would seem so - and they have been linked to several names just over the last few weeks.

Arsenal's Aaron Ramsdale, Burnley's James Trafford and Giorgi Mamardashvili of Valencia, have all been linked with summer moves to Newcastle. The big question however is whether the shot-stopper who comes in would do so as a number one or would Pope remain first choice?

Bird noted: "Newcastle United need a new goalkeeper but it's whether you want to invest £30 million on a new goalkeeper as that's a big chunk of your budget when you've already got Nick Pope.

"If they're in that business of doing the calculations and where it's spent it seems a lot of money to spend when you've got Nick Pope there. Pope is your obvious number one and he has a great record of clean sheets and they clearly concede far fewer goals but is he good enough with his feet?

"So do they want to advance that with a goalkeeper who's amazing at distribution as well as shot stopping? Maybe they do. Maybe that's something they've identified to improve the team.

"I also think there was a hint that when Nick Pope did his shoulder, he's done it more than once now and I think it's prone to happening again and again unless it's really properly fixed. Now hopefully it's properly fixed and Pope will be fine for the rest of his career but once you've had your shoulder dislocated there's a weakness there and if it happens again, then you need a top quality keeper."

Martin Dubravka - should he head north of the border?

The future of Martin Dubravka is one that will need to be sorted this summer. The shot-stopper played 30 times across all competitions last season following the injury to Nick Pope - but it's fair to say didn't do anything to help his case of being the club's number one goalkeeper.

With Pope back to fitness and United in the market for another goalkeeper, Dubravka at best will become the club's third choice goalkeeper but with his contract running out in June 2025, the Magpies may look to try and cash in on him now instead of losing him on a free in a year's time.

Bird believes that Scottish Premier League could be an ideal move for him: "It will be interesting to have a bit of competition in that position. Dubravka has been really good during his time at Newcastle but he's not the number one and he's not a number two, so they should move him on.

"He should go to Celtic and he'd be brilliant up there."

Yasir Al-Rumayyan's unusual Alexander Isak move

Alexander Isak's future is a constant topic of discussion as noted in this story. Arsenal are very keen on the striker but Eddie Howe and those in charge of transfers at Newcastle have been urged to remain strong in the face of any interest.

There is talk of a new deal for Isak following his 25-goal haul - and in the last home game of the season at St James' Park, against Brighton, the club's chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan was in attendance.

As Bird notes, his actions after the game didn't go unnoticed as approached Isak. Given the interest in Isak from some top teams, Bird believes as well as Howe having the job of persuade the Swedish international that United is the club for him, the chairman may also have a role to play.

"Yeah there probably will have to be a sales pitch and Eddie Howe's doing that with his players all the time to get the best out of them and sell them a dream and this is what your target is and that's all part of Howe's psychology.

"It was interesting in the last home game of the season they all walked around the the pitch and Yasir Al-Rumayyan was on the pitch. He kind of glad-handed everyone very briefly but the person he made a beeline for was Isak, and after that Isak's family.

"He did a real charm job. He talked to them for quite a lot and there was a bit of this and that he was really get into and we don't know what the message was but I mean we can guess it was like 'I love you and if there are any problems I want you to come to me and we will sort it out.'

"It was a big bridge builder from the chairman for the club which was unusual to see."

Is Miguel Almiron top of the sale list this summer?

Miguel Almiron was strongly linked with a move to Saudi-Pro club Al-Shabab back in January - with a fee of £25 million be talked about.

In the end, he didn't leave, and in truth it was no surprise given the winger has little desire to head to Middle East and pick up a fortune but instead, should he have to leave Tyneside, a move either to another Premier League side or a European club is his preference.

His agent came out last week and said there was interest from top flight club - newly promoted Ipswich have been credited with interest - but Almiron doesn't want to leave Newcastle and the club do not want to sell.

However the reality is, Almiron is arguably United's most sellable asset as Bird notes.

"If you want to cash in and get a quick £20 million in then he'd be right at the top of the list. We've seen his peak a couple of years ago - he got one assist and three goals this year, his stats aren't great for this campaign.

"He's been fun and smiles a lot but he's the one who is top of the list for an asset, a low key asset to sell. "

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The Everything is Black and White Podcast is an award-winning Newcastle United show bringing you a minimum of six episodes, for free, every week. You can listen to the podcast by simply searching The Everything is Black and White Podcast in your podcast app or by clicking here. We are also available on YouTube.