Joe Buck reacts to the news that Newcastle United are closing in on a deal to sign Aaron Ramsdale from Southampton. The Magpies missed out on James Trafford's signature to Manchester City and will instead sign the Saints stopper on a loan deal with an option to buy.
00:00So Newcastle United are closing in on their second major signing of the summer with news that Aaron Ramsdale is set to join from Southampton on loan for the season.
00:09Now, as we all know, Newcastle United were really interested in a deal for James Trafford.
00:13That was one they worked on all summer and they've been working on for pretty much a year.
00:17You know, a deal for him was pulled at the last minute about 12 months ago.
00:21And that was a deal they were really keen on doing again this year.
00:24But of course, Manchester City had a close in his contract, which said they could match any offer that was accepted by Burnley.
00:30Burnley had accepted an offer from Newcastle for £27 million.
00:33And Man City then matched that offer in the final hours of that close being live.
00:40And then, of course, became a choice between Newcastle and Man City for James Trafford.
00:44It's not really surprised to see him go to Man City.
00:47So once they lost out on him, Newcastle pivoted to other options.
00:50And Ramsdale is the one that they've chosen.
00:52Now, on the surface of it, I think a lot of Newcastle fans are a bit disappointed by the move.
00:56I think that, you know, everyone can laugh at Ramsdale's recent relegation record.
01:00He's been relegated with Bournemouth, Sheffield United and Southampton in recent times.
01:05But, you know, he's someone who will be pushing for an England start.
01:09Now, naturally, Jordan Pickford will be the main man in the World Cup next year, we assume.
01:13But, you know, Ramsdale will believe he's got the ability to push Pickford for that.
01:17And if he can get a full season behind him, then, you know, who knows what can happen there.
01:21They're getting someone with lots of Premier League experience again.
01:23Forget about the relegations.
01:25You know, he was Arsenal's number one not too long ago.
01:27And he's been thought of highly there.
01:29And to be honest, every club he's been at, he's been thought highly of.
01:32And, of course, he's worked under Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall at Bournemouth together.
01:36That was just for one season.
01:37But clearly, Howe is impressed with him.
01:39You've seen previous quotes of Eddie Howe speaking about Ramsdale and how impressive he's been.
01:44So, I think it's a deal that, you know, is it the wow deal?
01:47Is it the wow factor that, you know, that Newcastle would have hoped for and Newcastle fans would have hoped for?
01:52No, but is it a very solid deal that's going to get them a Premier League proven goalkeeper
01:56that can then compete with Nick Pope on a regular basis this summer?
01:59Yes, it's exactly that.
02:01And, you know, they've got now, because it's a loan deal, they've got all year to assess Ramsdale.
02:07See if he's going to be their choice next year.
02:09You know, there could be an opportunity, sort of, in 12 months' time.
02:11If Ramsdale's impressed in his first season, then actually Newcastle will go and sign him.
02:15And that's, you know, the goalkeeping situation covered for at least another few years.
02:18At 27, you know, goalkeepers, we all know, go on till mid-30s.
02:23And so, you know, they've got the best part of a decade.
02:25You'd hope Ramsdale's got the best part of a decade at the top of his game.
02:30And if it doesn't work out for whatever reason, if there's injury issues, if Ramsdale just isn't the option they've got,
02:34then they've at least delayed that option for signing of a new goalkeeper for another year.
02:39Now, of course, if Ramsdale doesn't work out, then they will have to look again next year at a new goalkeeper.
02:44But right now, I think it's a sensible deal and one that, yes, won't get fans off seats, but it's a sensible one.
02:49And I think it's good for Newcastle that if A, gone out and got a target that they wanted, Ramsdale, okay, they missed out on James Trafford.
02:56But B, they've managed to complete this deal really quickly.
02:58You know, they need to act with speed now.
03:00They still need three or four players in and that's without in case Alexander Eysak leaves.
03:03So they need to complete deals with Hayes and they've done that.
03:06So, yeah, Ramsdale will now, will join Newcastle after completing his medical and will compete with Nick Pope for that starting spot.
03:14The same thing as we're going to do with James Trafford.
03:16I think they want two, you know, two good goalkeepers in there in the squad competing for starting spots.
03:20I don't think you'd worry about either starting a game.
03:23Ramsdale's probably better with his feet than Pope or certainly is better than Pope.
03:27But, of course, Nick Pope has, you know, been Newcastle's keeper for three years now and pulled off some brilliant saves at really crucial times.
03:34So, yeah, it'll be interesting to see how that dynamic works as the season progresses.
03:37It does mean the likelihood of Martin de Bravka and Odysseys Vlacadimov are going to leave the club.
03:41Vlacadimov's probably on loan, Martin de Bravka maybe permanently.
03:45So that'll be interesting to see how, again, that sort of unfolds over the summer.
03:48But, as I said, this is Newcastle's second signing in.
03:51They've now got a few more weeks of the transfer window left before the start of the season
03:54and then have the chance of the winner left to really ram home and get some more signings in.
03:58But Ramsdale and Elanga are a start.
04:01Probably better if this was a couple of weeks ago, you know, before the pre-season started to ram up.
04:05But right now, we've got two in, hopefully more to come.
04:08And the best way you can stay up with it with all the latest Newcastle United transfer news this summer
