Newcastle United are reportedly on the verge of acquiring the services of goalkeeper Nick Pope from recently relegated Burnley. 

According to The Telegraph, English shot-stopper is said to be extremely keen on a prompt return to the premier league, particularly in the hope of staying in the eyes of English manager Gareth Southgate in a crucial season that shall be punctuated by the World Cup 2022 in Qatar- a tournament that the 30-year-old intends to be involved in. Pope is acutely aware that he needs to be playing in the top flight if he wants to be in the squad ahead of fellow goalkeeping hopeful Sam Johnstone- who himself is closing on a move to Crystal Palace, come November.

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Newcastle are expected to pay Burnley a figure of around £8 to £10 million, in a move that will mark a major overhaul in the goalkeeping department for the Tyneside club as they seek to strengthen their credentials in the Premier League and begin to challenge further up the table on the back of the recent Saudi takeover. 

While current goalkeeper Martin Dubravka has been a valuable servant for the magpies over the years, Nick Pope has established himself as one of the top flight’s most reliable keepers and is seen as a major step up especially considering he has at least another 5-7 years of top-flight football in him. 

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A Newcastle source told the Football Insider that the club are wrapping up formalities for Pope.

He is expected to undergo a medical on Wednesday before officially being unveiled as a Newcastle player on Thursday, the 23rd of June. 

Pope will become Eddie Howe’s first signing of the summer, even as the club is looking to further add to their squad, with talks currently ongoing with Sven Botman and Hugo Ekitike who are currently operating in the French league.