Newcastle United
Premier League • England
Newcastle prepare shock bid for Ashworth favourite to confirm end is nigh for long-serving star
Newcastle United are ready to make an offer to sign Josh Griffiths from West Bromwich Albion to replace a long-serving player of their own, according to a report.
Griffiths has just completed his debut Championship season with the West Brom first team, for whom he made 10 appearances. Prior to that, their academy product endured loan spells with Cheltenham Town in League Two, and Lincoln City and Portsmouth in League One.
This summer, he could earn a step up to the Premier League with Newcastle. According to The Sun, he has become a target at St. James’ Park.
Newcastle’s sporting director, Dan Ashworth, is the driving force behind their interest. He was previously aware of Griffiths’ potential when working as a technical director for West Brom.
Now, Ashworth could attempt to prise the goalkeeper away from West Brom, although it is not yet clear how much a transfer might cost.
West Brom have Griffiths under contract for another two seasons, but might now be bracing themselves for a bid by Newcastle.
After all, TEAMtalk exclusively revealed earlier this week that Karl Darlow is ready to leave Newcastle for regular first-team football. He spent the second half of last season on loan with Hull City, but it is understood that Middlesbrough are now in pole position to sign the 32-year-old.
Therefore, Newcastle might need a third goalkeeper on their books. Their first-choice shot-stopper remains Nick Pope, with Martin Dubravka serving as his deputy.
They are also hoping to keep Loris Karius as third in command, while Mark Gillespie is still under contract as well.
Newcastle could sign Griffiths and loan him out
Thus, even if Griffiths is signed, Newcastle might not integrate him immediately into their squad. Instead, the report suggests they might loan him out elsewhere (to a destination presently unknown), like West Brom did earlier in his career.
But by buying him now, Newcastle would gain control of the 21-year-old’s career before his value rises too much.
The Magpies have Pope under contract until 2026, by which time the former Burnley man will be 34. Dubravka is already that old and has two years remaining on his own contract.
Griffiths might have the potential to become a long-term successor to either of them. Back in March, he earned his first cap for the England under-21 national team, proving the progress he has been making.
It came a month after his senior debut for West Brom, who are now planning to make a few sales after only managing to finish ninth in the Championship table.
Newcastle are aiming to take advantage of the situation by equipping themselves with a promising homegrown goalkeeper for the future.
They will have a few other targets in mind for other positions ahead of their entry into next season’s Champions League. But with Financial Fair Play to keep in mind, the report concludes it is expected to be a case of quality over quantity when it comes to bolstering Eddie Howe’s squad.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that Ashworth could inspire Newcastle to make a move for a cut-price Chelsea misfit.