Bayern Munich target Nick Pope as one of six candidates to succeed Manuel Neuer

Nick Pope has emerged as a surprise name on Bayern Munich’s shortlist of potential successors to Manuel Neuer, according to a report from Spanish outlet Fichajes. The Newcastle United goalkeeper — currently third choice at St. James’ Park — is one of six candidates identified by the Bundesliga giants as they plan for life after their legendary shot-stopper.

Neuer, now 40, retired from international duty following Germany’s World Cup exit at the hands of Paraguay over the summer, and Bayern are reportedly moving to ensure a smooth transition in goal before his club career also winds down. The club’s board are said to be prioritising a “specialist with international experience to avoid tactical imbalances” while 23-year-old Jonas Urbig — who has made 23 Bundesliga appearances since joining from Köln — continues his development.

Pope’s inclusion on the list is eyebrow-raising given his current standing at Newcastle. After competing with Aaron Ramsdale for the starting spot last season, the England international has not played a single minute under new head coach Matthias Jassle this term. The summer signing of Lukas Hornicek has pushed Pope further down the pecking order — Hornicek even started Newcastle’s League Cup victory against Millwall last month.

The five other names on Bayern’s radar offer a more conventional profile. Rui Silva of Sporting, Lukas Hradecky of Monaco, Frederik Ronnow of Union Berlin, Kevin Trapp of Paris FC, and Juan Musso of Atlético Madrid all feature on the shortlist as the Bavarians weigh their options.

Bayern’s attempts to plan for Neuer’s eventual departure have a complicated history. The club signed Alexander Nubel from Schalke in 2020 — a move Neuer publicly dismissed as “irrelevant” to him — only for the succession plan to collapse entirely as Neuer went on to captain the side to six trophies that year. Yann Sommer and Daniel Peretz have since served as understudies, but neither managed to dislodge the veteran for any sustained period.

Celtic, Leeds United, and Hull City are also said to be monitoring Pope, whose Transfermarkt valuation currently stands at €3 million — a figure that underlines just how far his stock has fallen since his peak years at Newcastle.