NUFC continue to be linked with Ligue 1 goalkeeper - but does Benitez really need a new no.1?
Newcastle United continue to be linked with a January move for PSG goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, with France Football claiming today that we remain interested in the highly-rated 24-year old. The big question is, does Benitez really need a new number one?
When fit, Rob Elliot has been sensational in recent seasons and has enjoyed a superb start to the new season, conceding just 6 goals in 7 games.
Tim Krul has been sold and Karl Darlow's future appears to lie elsewhere, however we would be unwise to push Freddie Woodman aside. The England U-21 goalkeeper looks a top prospect and the signing of Areola would only appear to push him further down the pecking order?
Back to Areola. He is highly-rated and would be considered a real coup for the club, however I would question just how necessary he would be given Elliot's form and how it may impact Woodman's development.
That being said, Benitez clearly wants keeper when you look at it. Sels was brought in last summer but that hasn't work out and Rafa endured a long yet unsuccessful pursuit of Pepe Reina over the summer.
The Chronicle wrote this about the PSG stopper back in July, confirming he was in fact a player discussed in transfer meetings this summer:
'The 24-year-old goalkeeper has been discussed in Newcastle transfer meetings as Benitez searches for alternative goalkeeper options to Reina.
However, Paris Saint-Germain would demand a fee in excess of £13million for their second-choice goalkeeper - who did temporarily usurp Kevin Trapp to the No 1 jersey at the Parc des Princes last season - and it appears highly unlikely that Newcastle’s interest will turn into a substantive bid for that reason.'
Areola has since continued to keep Kevin Trapp out of the team for the French giants, however is refusing to sign a new contract with the club, refusing to commit with suspicions that the big spenders plan to replace him the a big name replacement.
Don't get me wrong, I would not be disappointed to sign a player of his calibre, but our reported interest does make me question what this would mean for the reliable Rob Elliot and the future of exciting prospect Freddie Woodman.
Let us know your thoughts. Do we actually need another goalkeeper?
