Newcastle United have rewarded Nick Pope for his fine form after the club qualified for the Champions League last season.
Pope admits he could retire at Newcastle United, although that is hopefully not for a few years yet.
While the 33-year-old has been criticised at times this season, he clearly remains Eddie Howe’s first choice goalkeeper at Newcastle United.
Indeed, he’s held off competition from Aaron Ramsdale to keep his place in the starting lineup at St James’ Park.
Heading into the eighth round of Premier League fixtures, no one in the division boasts more clean sheets than Pope this season (5).
As such, he’s been rewarded after taking up the option of a new deal.
- Who is Nick Pope? Get to know the Newcastle United No.1 goalkeeper
Nick Pope agrees Newcastle United contract extension
According to Keith Downie of Sky Sports, Pope has agreed a one-year contract extension.
The former Burnley stopper was given an option to do so after the club qualified for the Champions League.
He’s duly invoked that clause, although Downie explained in the YouTube video that it hasn’t been announced by the club yet.
That is not without precedent, as Downie points out.
“As many of you will think, Nick Pope’s deal, his four-year deal that he signed when he agreed to move to the club in the summer of 2022 is up next summer, summer 2026 so the end of the season,” said the Sky Sports reporter.
“However, I’m reliably told that Pope has agreed a one-year contract extension that was rewarded to him by the club after Newcastle qualified for the Champions League.
“This is something that hasn’t been announced by the club. We’ve seen that before with certain players, I remember a similar situation with Fabian Schar and maybe one or two others.
“It’s not been announced but I’m of the understanding that Pope has agreed to that new deal and he will remain here on Tyneside until the summer of 2027.”
Nick Pope contract extension suddenly puts Aaron Ramsdale under more pressure
Given Howe’s constant praise for Pope, it’s difficult to see how Ramsdale gets a run in the team unless his compatriot suffers an injury.
Ramsdale, of course, only joined the club on loan from Southampton and it’s thought that the deal included an option to buy him permanently rather than an obligation.
With that in mind, it’s getting increasingly difficult to imagine him staying long-term despite the fact Newcastle rate Ramsdale highly behind the scenes.
With Pope now around until at least the summer of 2027, it would surely make more sense to target a younger goalkeeper who can prove his eventual heir.
Newcastle tried to do that with James Trafford but eventually missed out. It could be something they have to address again, however.
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