Newcastle could find Pope heir in Costa

Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope has loved an exceptional begin to the 2022/23 marketing campaign since making the transfer from Burnley in the summertime switch window.

The 30-year-old, who Shay Given as soon as dubbed “phenomenal“, has performed in all six of the membership’s Premier League matches up to now and has averaged a chic SofaScore rating of 7.53 – the second-highest within the squad.

He has saved 82% of the photographs in opposition to him within the top-flight and saved three clear sheets and has already made himself a key member of Eddie Howe’s squad.

Nonetheless, Newcastle look like fascinated with life past the ex-Claret stopper already as they’ve been touted with an curiosity in Porto’s Diogo Costa.

The Magpies are reportedly eyeing him up for a January switch and the Portuguese giants are stated to worth him at £21.6m, regardless of him having a £51.9m launch clause.

Dan Ashworth might now land the dream inheritor to Pope at St. James’ Park by snapping up a deal to signal the 22-year-old within the winter market.

Ought to Newcastle signal Costa?

Costa might are available as back-up or competitors for the previous Burnley man to start with earlier than succeeding him between the sticks sooner or later, as he’s eight years youthful than the Englishman.

One of many England worldwide’s largest strengths is his capacity to brush up behind his defence. He excels at working off his line to cope with harmful crosses and thru balls, as a substitute of being rooted to the spot and permitting the opposition to reap the benefits of house in-behind.

Pope ranks within the 99th and 98th percentile for defensive actions exterior of the field and the common distance of these actions per 90 respectively, amongst gamers in his place in Europe’s prime 5 leagues during the last twelve months.

Costa can be among the finest goalkeepers round when it comes to sweeping. He ranks within the 94th and 96th percentile for the 2 aforementioned statistics, primarily based on his performances in European competitions during the last twelve months.

This reveals that each gamers are excellent for a workforce enjoying a excessive line. Eddie Howe is aware of that he can instruct his defence to take a seat greater up the pitch as a result of he is aware of that Pope can cope with the oppositions makes an attempt to play the ball into the house it leaves, with Costa in a position to fulfill this position as properly.

Howe desires his workforce to press high and power turnovers and having a goalkeeper able to sweeping is essential to that, because it permits the remainder of the workforce to push on with out concern of being uncovered defensively.

Expertise scout Jacek Kulig dubbed Costa “The Wall” after he gained his fifth goalkeeper of the month award within the Portuguese top-flight final season, which illustrates how spectacular he was in 2021/22 as he caught the attention along with his shows between the sticks.

Subsequently, he has the potential to be a superb, long-term, signing for the Magpies as his goalkeeping model matches in with Howe’s approach of enjoying and he’s a younger participant who has put in robust performances in Portugal, while gaining experience within the Champions League.

Ashworth should work his magic in January to strike a deal for the gem in order that he can are available to compete for the primary shirt with Pope, with a view to being his inheritor sooner or later as he continues to develop and hone his abilities.