Nick Pope's big question in contract talks as Newcastle United's battle for number 1 commences

Newcastle United hope to complete their second signing of the season by adding Nick Pope to their squad for the 2022/23 season today.

A fee in the region of £12million with potential add ons to follow has been agreed with relegated Burnley who decided to sell Pope before his contract expires next summer. However, with Southampton, West Ham and Nottingham Forest also interested in Pope it is thought that first-team assurances were sought from the 6ft 3in stopper.

Indeed, Chronicle Live understands that Pope wants a genuine tilt at the number 1 spot on Tyneside with the World Cup in Qatar just around the corner. Pope was one of England's keepers in the UEFA Nations League matches this summer but didn't get an opportunity with Aaron Ramsdale and Jordan Pickford featuring in the four matches against Hungary (twice), Italy and Germany.

Pope played 39 matches for Burnley last season and wants to keep up that momentum moving towards the tournament in the Middle East. The narrative when Pope arrives will almost certainly be that he is here to fight for his place but Eddie Howe will assess all of his goalkeepers in pre-season before making a decision on his starting goalie in the opener at home to Nottingham Forest on August 6.

Pope's puts a question mark over the previously committed and popular Slovakia international Martin Dubravka while Karl Darlow has already made it clear he needs to play at 31. Darlow waited patiently for opportunities last season but appeared just eight matches after recovering from Covid last pre-season.

Darlow played in 26 games in 2020/21 when some of his best form for the club came behind closed doors in the lockdown campaign. The ex-Nottingham Forest keeper has been linked with Middlesbrough but we