According to the Chronicle, Freddie Woodman is becoming increasingly frustrate by his lack of game time at Newcastle United – but Rafa Benitez is ‘desperate’ to keep the 21-year-old on Tyneside.
The goalkeeper has just been called up to England’s U-21 squad, however he’s now third choice at international level after playing just 3 games at senior level across the 2018/19 season.
Those appearances all game in the FA Cup, with him playing in both legs of our Third Round clash with Blackburn and starting our 4th Round defeat to Watford at St James’ Park.
Here’s what the Chronicle have had to say about Woodman when assessing our current goalkeeping department – a report which claims we’ve been scouting TWO goalkeepers in Europe:
‘As for Woodman, while Newcastle are desperate to keep the 22-year-old, the goalkeeper himself has been left frustrated by his lack of loan moves – and he has refused to sign a new deal as a result.
‘Premier League clubs are believed to be tracking the England Under-21 international and Newcastle’s resolve may be tested if they receive a substantial offer for Woodman this summer.’
Woodman’s been at the club for several years now and has been tipped for the top and involved in England’s youth set up for a long while, so it’s no surprise to hear he’s frustrated.
Rob Elliot and Karl Darlow could both leave the club this summer, meaning he could become Martin Dubravka’s understudy, however he’ll be desperate to play regular first-team football next season – and I don’t see him getting that with us just yet.
He’s had six-month spells in Scotland over the past few years, joining Kilmarnock in January 2017 and Aberdeen in January 2018, but the club failed to sanction any loan deal last season, meaning he was restricted to the odd cup appearance along with 13 starts for our U-23’s.
He’ll be representing England’s Under-21s at the European Championships this month, so there’s only so long we can get away with leaving him to stagnate in our second string.
It’s surely time to put faith in him and make him our 2nd choice keeper next season or find him a decent loan move this summer.
Failure to do either of the above and no one could blame him if he pushed for a move away.
