De Gea, Ramsdale, and ex-Chelsea star - potential Newcastle goalkeeper options

With the Magpies set to dip into the January market in a bid to bolster between the sticks, WhoScored.com pick out five they could target in the New Year to ease Pope's absence.

David De Gea (Free Agent)

The logical choice for Newcastle, and talkSPORT understand he's offered his services.

David De Gea is without a club following his summer release from Manchester United and despite reports of a switch to Real Madrid once it was confirmed Thibaut Courtois would sit out the season earlier in the year, the Spaniard remains without a club.

The 33-year-old has been linked with a big money Saudi switch but Newcastle would be foolish to pass up the chance to sign De Gea.

The Magpies can afford De Gea's high wages and he boasts the necessary Premier League experience to slot in seamlessly at St. James' Park.

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Despite a few months twiddling his thumbs, De Gea still ranks third for clean sheets (17) since the start of last season, a return only bettered by Nick Pope (19) and Alisson (18).

The former United man may not be the finest distributor in the game, which was part of the reason behind his summer Old Trafford departure, but nor is Pope.

A fine shot-stopper, De Gea would be a solid deputy in the absence of Pope.

Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)

Having lost his starting spot at Arsenal to David Raya, Aaron Ramsdale is also intrigued about a transfer.

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Ramsdale has started just one league game since the 3-1 win over Manchester United at the start of September, and that came in the 1-0 win at Brentford last month, a match Raya missed because he was ineligible to face his parent club.

While Arsenal would be reluctant to lose Ramsdale halfway through the season, they'd be able to recoup a hefty fee for the 25-year-old were they to cash in on the goalkeeper.

Crucially for Newcastle is that they'd be able to add Ramsdale to the squad without eating into their homegrown quota and with one England international sidelined for the foreseeable future, they could do a lot worse than replace him with another.

Hugo Lloris (Tottenham)

Hugo Lloris' Tottenham career is ending with a whimper rather than a bang.

Ousted as number one at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium following the arrival of Guglielmo Vicario, the Frenchman hasn't had a look in under Ange Postecoglou.

With a little over six months to go on his current deal in north London, the former France number one is free to leave next month should a suitable offer come in.

While Lloris has been included in Spurs' Premier League squad, it'll take a monumental turn in fortunes for the 36-year-old to play for Postecoglou's side again, though given their current injury crisis… that isn't impossible.

Nevertheless, he wouldn't cost a fortune to prise away from the capital and even on a short-term deal; Lloris may prove a handy stop-gap until Pope returns.

Edouard Mendy (Al Ahli)

Considering Newcastle are owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, the same company that took control of the Saudi Pro League's four biggest teams - Al Nassr, Al Hilal, Al Ittihad, and Al Ahli - ahead of the season, there is the possibility that the Magpies could explore options from the quartet in January.

Edouard Mendy is one who could be considered by the Magpies with Newcastle free to loan players from PIF-owned clubs following last month's vote to allow the temporary transfers.

Al-Ahli may not boast the best defence in the Saudi Pro League having shipped 19 times from 15 matches, but Mendy was at one point considered one of the best goalkeepers in the game.

He'd bring Premier League experience with him to St James' Park and was key between the sticks during Chelsea's run of success in 2021, with his WhoScored.com rating of 7.12 the best in the 2020/21 Champions League campaign.

Still only 29, Mendy would perhaps welcome a second chance in England in a bid to prove his doubters wrong.

Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal)

Another Saudi Pro League side owned by PIF, Yassine Bounou would perhaps be the biggest risk for Newcastle given his lack of experience in the Premier League but he remains an elite shot-stopper.

Bayern, after all, were linked with a move for the Morocco international earlier this year prior to Manuel Neuer's return to action.

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Al-Hilal have conceded the fewest goals (8) in the Saudi Pro League this season, with Bounou starting 13 of their 15 league matches, and he's kept a clean sheet in nine of those.

Al-Hilal would be reluctant to lose the 32-year-old next month as they seek a 19th-Saudi Pro League success, but a goalkeeper of Bounou's quality might just give Newcastle the edge they need in the second half of the campaign.