‘Progress is being made’ – Newcastle close in on new deal, leaving two signings ‘unlikely’

It looks like John Ruddy is edging closer to a new contract at Newcastle United.

When the club released our 2025/26 retained list last week, Jamal Lewis’ exit was confirmed but uncertainty continued over the future of Ruddy and Callum Wilson, with the statement revealing that talks would take place with both over possible extensions.

The Athletic’s Chris Waugh reports that an agreement is ‘not close’ over a new incentivised deal for 33-year-old Wilson, but he reveals that ‘progress is being made’ regarding Ruddy.

As a result, Newcastle are now ‘unlikely’ to recruit recently linked goalkeepers Fraser Forster and Tim Krul, both formerly on Tyneside earlier in their careers.

Waugh confirms that both free agents were discussed internally as potential options, which could’ve helped the club satisfy UEFA rules next season due to their homegrown credentials.

However, it looks like both, along with previously linked Freddie Woodman, will not be pursued should Ruddy extend his stay on Tyneside by a further season.

This all comes after the club exercised their option to extend Mark Gillespie’s contract by another year, as confirmed in last week’s retained list.

Elsewhere, a loan move for Odysseas Vlachodimos is likely given a quick sale would not help the club from a PSR perspective, while Nick Pope and Martin Dubravka’s future may come into question should Newcastle land top target James Trafford.