Nick Pope set to leave Newcastle as Celtic lead the race for veteran keeper

Nick Pope’s four-year spell at Newcastle United is drawing to a close, with the 34-year-old goalkeeper expected to leave St. James’ Park before the summer transfer deadline after being frozen out by new head coach Matthias Jaissle.

Jaissle has reshaped Newcastle’s goalkeeping department this summer, signing Lukas Hornicek and Ewen Jaouen to serve as his first and second-choice options respectively. That double recruitment has left Pope with no clear path back into the first team, and FourFourTwo understands he is prepared to walk away from a contract that still has 12 months to run.

Jaissle acknowledged the situation publicly after a pre-season fixture. “I had a talk with Nick. I really appreciate what he has done in his career,” the German coach said. “He knows exactly the situation right now and we need to deal with it in the best possible way.”

Scottish Premiership champions Celtic have emerged as the frontrunners to sign Pope, with the club seeking an experienced replacement following Kasper Schmeichel’s retirement. Premier League sides Leeds United and Ipswich Town had also registered interest, though those options appear to have cooled after Leeds signed James Trafford and Ipswich secured Kjell Scherpen.

Pope arrived from Burnley in the summer of 2022 and quickly became a fan favourite and a cornerstone of Newcastle’s resurgence under Eddie Howe. His standout campaign came in 2022/23, when he was instrumental in the club securing a top-four Premier League finish and UEFA Champions League qualification, as well as a run to the Carabao Cup final.

His tenure was not without its difficulties, however. A red card against Liverpool ruled him out of the 2023 Carabao Cup final, and recurring shoulder injuries cost him significant playing time in subsequent seasons. His relative limitations with the ball at his feet also became a factor under Jaissle, who favours a goalkeeper comfortable playing out from the back.

Despite those later complications, Pope departs having left a clear mark on one of the more significant chapters in Newcastle’s recent history.