'Really strong' - Newcastle United new signing at training ground as two more deals lined up
Newcastle United transfers: New goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen has reflected on his first day of pre-season at The KNOX.
Newcastle United new signing Ewen Jaouen believes the club’s goalkeeper group is ‘really strong’ despite uncertainty in the department.
Jaouen joined the Magpies from Stade de Reims for £18million at the start of the summer transfer window, with the move becoming official on July 1.
The 20-year-old has joined Newcastle initially as a second-choice goalkeeper, with ongoing uncertainty as to how the squad’s goalkeeping department will be shaping up come the end of the transfer window.
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Since Jaouen signed a four-year deal with Newcastle last month, the club has confirmed the exits of John Ruddy, Aaron Ramsdale and Odysseas Vlachodimos, with the latter returning to Sevilla on loan. It leaves the French youngster working with Nick Pope and Mark Gillespie as part of the senior goalkeeping team for the start of pre-season.
Under-21s goalkeeper Aidan Harris, 19, was also part of the goalkeeper group at The KNOX on Monday.
Ewen Jaouen on Newcastle United pre-season
Reflecting on his first proper day of pre-season, Jaouen told the club website: “[I feel] good, good. Tough physically for the test but good to be back on the pitch and yeah, happy to have the kit on me.
“Wearing the jersey and the logo also feels good. Feels like [I'm] kind of on a mission. Really happy to have it on. I have a lot of faces to remember, a lot of names to remember but it is nice to see that every person here at The KNOX is really nice to me and to other people. You can really feel that we are in a good club.
“These first few weeks are really important, I think it is the main part of the adaptation because you have to learn quickly how to fit into the team.
“I’ve learned that everyone pays attention to everyone. We can really feel like we are a big family, it feels like everyone wants the best for you.
“It feels good to touch the ball with the gloves and see my new teammates and coach [Eddie Howe], he is really nice.
“I can feel that the keeper team is really, really nice and it's the first day and I feel like we are really strong together for the first day.”
NUFC goalkeeper changes expected
But the strength of the goalkeeping team could change over the course of the summer window with Newcastle expecting more movement in that department. As reported by The Gazette, Pope will be allowed to leave this summer and has attracted interest from boyhood club Ipswich Town among other Premier League sides.
But sources close to the situation have told The Gazette that there is a ‘50/50’ chance Pope stays as first-choice goalkeeper for the upcoming season. Should he leave, Newcastle will need to find a new number one with Manchester City’s James Trafford a long-term target.
Older first-team-ready alternatives have also been looked at while the club looks to bring in a third-choice goalkeeper as a replacement for Ruddy.
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