Ally McCoist says he simply can’t see recently-benched Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale securing a transfer to Newcastle United.
Eddie Howe and Newcastle United have been dealt a huge blow following Nick Pope’s shoulder injury – the prognosis isn’t great and he is set to be on the sidelines for several months.
All of that has now switched talk and attention to who should Newcastle United sign in January to fill the boots of a player who has been so vital to the team.
With Aaron Ramsdale benched at Arsenal, following the summer capture of David Raya, his name has understandably been thrown on the table.
But Ally McCoist stated that Mikel Arteta simply ‘can’t let him go’ and he doesn’t think it’s a transfer that will happen in January, as he told talkSPORT.
The ironic thing here is that Nick Pope has recently lost his England place, and even though Aaron Ramsdale has been benched at club level, the £30 million star (Sky Sports) has still been picked.
And if the 25-year-old were to move to St James’ Park, then it probably further decreases Nick Pope’s chances of making the cut for Euro 2024.
Either way, Ally McCoist thinks Mikel Arteta faces a ‘major problem’ if such a deal were to take place.
Will Aaron Ramsdale join Newcastle after Nick Pope’s injury?
“He (Arteta) can’t let him go,” said McCoist. “I wouldn’t say it’s a non-starter, but I don’t think it will happen.
“Flip side of the coin, what if Ramsdale does go to Newcastle and is absolutely out of this world, then he gives Arteta a major problem. He has got a problem, at this moment in time.
“But if he goes Newcastle, plays out of this world, and all of a sudden, your own keeper starts making one or two mistakes. I can’t see Ramsdale moving on this window (January), to be honest with you.
“If he moves, then I think it will be at the end of the season.”
Aaron Ramsdale would be an outstanding signing for Newcastle
At the end of the day, money talks and never say never. If the Champions League side manages to sign Ramsdale, then it would be some coup.
On one hand, what type of deal do Newcastle do here? If they sign a player like Ramsdale permanently, then they will have Pope to come back and several big hitters in the goalkeeping department for next season, which isn’t easy to deal with.
So, do they go for a short-term deal? That’s probably the logical way to go about things, but Arsenal surely won’t allow Ramsdale to leave on loan to a rival, even if they accepted big money in January.
Either way, the powers that be at Newcastle have a big call to make, which could define the latter part of the team’s season.
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