Newcastle United’s move for France under-21 goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen is both a statement of intent and a mission statement.
If you wanted an insight into how things will be different this summer, spending upwards of £15m – the final fee is yet to be agreed, despite positive talks on Friday – on a young goalkeeper with no experience above Ligue 2 is it.
Club insiders have long argued that financial restrictions mean Newcastle cannot afford to shop solely for players regarded as the “finished article” but recruitment has not always reflected that. Now it appears they are about to practice what they preach.
In Jaouen Newcastle would certainly be buying potential – and it is just one piece of a larger goalkeeper jigsaw at St James’ Park. Last season’s number one Nick Pope is available for transfer and has attracted interest from Ipswich. If he goes Newcastle are almost certain to move to bring in another goalkeeper.
The i Paper understands that Newcastle are yet to hold detailed discussions with Odysseas Vlachodimos, who excelled on loan at Sevilla, but the intention is to sell him this summer.
