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Newcastle's Nick Pope transfer decision is made for them after key development
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- Newcastle's Nick Pope transfer decision is made for them after key development
Newcastle should keep hold of Nick Pope for the remainder of the campaign amid Ewen Jaouen's persistent injury concerns.
Pope has fallen down the pecking order at Newcastle this season under Matthias Jaissle as he approaches the end of his contract in June 2027.
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The 34-year-old struggled for form last season and was told to leave over the summer, with rumours still persisting over a possible January exit.
Newcastle signed Jaouen and Lukas Hornicek to bolster their goalkeeping department for this season, with the latter now Jaissle's clear number one.
Jaouen is proving to be injury-prone after picking up his third issue of the campaign so far while away on international duty with France under-21s.
It would make little sense for the Magpies to allow Pope to leave in January while he is still under contract, in case Jaouen's woes continue after a tough start to life on Tyneside.
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Nick Pope should be kept on for the whole season at Newcastle after Ewen Jaouen latest
Jaouen became Newcastle's first summer signing in June as he arrived from Reims for an initial £18.5million.
He earned huge plaudits in France last season to earn the big move, keeping 15 clean sheets in 34 Ligue 2 matches.
Jaouen missed three pre-season friendlies for Newcastle after suffering an injury in training, but returned in August to make his first competitive appearance against West Brom in the Carabao Cup.
He then rolled his ankle in training last month and was not part of the matchday squad for their three games before the international break.
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Jaouen's return to action for France's u21s was seen as a big positive after his separate spells out, but reports from their camp have now claimed that he is heading back to Tyneside with a new hamstring problem.
He is now dealing with his third issue in three months of being at Newcastle, with no end in sight for his injury woes.
Pope represents an experienced backup option for Jaissle in his absence, and thus it would clearly not make sense to let him leave in January.
Newcastle do not want to be stuck having to use a youth keeper if Jaouen and Hornicek suffer injuries in the second half of the campaign, with Pope likely to leave next summer on a free regardless.
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Nick Pope eyes free transfer after 'surprise' Newcastle exit decision Nick Pope 'confident' of winning back Newcastle starting place Pope 'confident' of staking Newcastle claim ahead of Hornicek and Jaouen
Pope turned down the chance to leave Newcastle in the summer as Ipswich Town and Celtic each registered their interest in his services.
He is not set to feature competitively anytime soon, unless Hornicek is injured, but sources have exclusively revealed to Football Insiderthat Pope believes he can become Newcastle's number one again at some point this season.
Jaissle has welcomed him back into the fold after he failed to depart St James', and while he may have other plans to let him leave, it would be short-sighted to sell him in January.
