Newcastle admire goalkeeper, won’t pursue transfer deal after a long chase

Almost nothing has changed since the first time Dean Henderson entered the Magpies realm. With the new owners in place and facing a very tough second half of the season entering January’s transfer market, solutions—and quick ones—were needed. Reinforcements had to arrive. A goalkeeper was definitely not the most pressing of positions to bolster but it was definitely one. There were multiple candidates but one name seemed to pop up in every conversation regarding the no. 1 player named in the squad: Dean Henderson.

Newcastle have not dropped their interest in the Manchester United goalie and David De Gea backup. That was the case a month ago, two months ago, five months ago, and who knows if even farther down the line. The link always made sense. There was a need from Newcastle, and there was a willingness from the Manchester with the Red Devils having minimal to nonexistent use for their no. 2 goalie.

Henderson himself seemed to be cool with the idea of joining the Magpies in an effort to build himself a bulkier resume in advance of Qatar’s World Cup as he wants to be part of the English contingent landing on the Arab country later this year. It was just a matter of time. Or was it?

The latest reports talk about a break in the connection between Newcastle and Dean Henderson without specifying the broken link. Luke Edwards, writing for Telegraph Sport, is reporting a stoppage in negotiations mostly by Newcastle as the Toon won’t pursue the signing of Manchester United’s keeper this summer. The club is understood to rate and “admire” the goalkeeper and his abilities, but “there has been no attempt made to sign him and that is not going to change in this window”.

It’s been Newcastle sources “vehemently denying” such a pursuit and any/every sort of offer reportedly made by the Magpies to acquire the goalie. Newcastle “have discussed signing a goalkeeper in their recruitment meetings this year yet it is not a top priority as there are other positions they need to fill more urgently”, writes Luke Edwards.

Newcastle will now turn their focus on finalizing the deal to acquire French forward Hugo Ekitike after having an agreement in place with his club Stade de Reims, only pending reaching a satisfactory point in the negotiations with the youngster.