NUFC plot bid for £101m ace who Messi says "is one of the best", it's a huge statement - opinion

Newcastle could move this summer to sign a new goalkeeper with Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak now on their shopping list.

With the stopper open to moving to the English top-flight, Newcastle are reportedly the only club interested in the 29-year-old who can afford his €120m (£101m) release clause.

Interestingly, right-back Kieran Trippier has already confirmed he has spoken to the keeper about playing in England.

“I think he’d be unbelievable in the Premier League, but obviously it’s who could he go to? That’s the question,” said the right-back.

“I’ve had conversations with him before about the Premier League. He’s always asked me questions. Of course, I’d love to see him in the Premier League one day.”

Newcastle are breezing towards securing their Premier League status for next season under Eddie Howe, after winning six of their last eight league games – and losing just one from their last ten, which came against Chelsea at the weekend.

While 33-year-old Slovakian keeper Martin Dubravka has been particularly solid between the sticks since the start of the year, averaging a rating of 6.94 in the Premier League so far in 2022, Howe will likely still view the defence as a key area that needs strengthening before the next campaign begins.

After signing Kieran Trippier from Atletico Madrid, the club demonstrated for the first time their ambitions going forward to the rest of Europe after their Saudi takeover, and they will be attempting to go one step further by making a huge statement to sign the England right-back’s former teammate at the Spanish club, Oblak.

He has been in demand for the last several years or so by Europe’s elite, and for whatever the price the Tyneside club may pay for him, they will get in return a