Newcastle United Eye £15m Goalkeeper Leading Key Stats Across Europe’s Top Five Leagues
Newcastle United’s Pursuit of James Trafford Far From Finalised Despite Early Reports
With no deal currently in place, Newcastle United would be unwise to halt their search for a new goalkeeper. The club appears to still be actively exploring options.
Aaron Ramsdale, who is expected to be on the move this summer following Southampton’s relegation, has once again been linked with Newcastle.
However, a new name has now emerged: Yahia Fofana, an Ivory Coast international currently playing for French side Angers.
According to Football Insider, Newcastle are among several Premier League clubs monitoring the 24-year-old after a standout season.
Fofana leads Europe’s top five leagues in post-shot expected goals (PSxG), a key metric for evaluating goalkeeper performance.
He has attracted interest not only from within the Premier League—Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brentford are also keen—but also from clubs across Europe.
Fofana joined Angers from Le Havre in 2022 and could be available for around £15 million this summer.
Compared to the estimated £20 million Newcastle may need to spend on James Trafford, Fofana presents a potential saving of £5 million.
While Trafford has youth and Premier League experience on his side, Financial Fair Play considerations mean Newcastle must remain cost-conscious.
The key question remains: was Fofana’s impressive season a one-off, or a sign of long-term potential?
Given the uncertainty and the source of the report, caution is warranted—but Newcastle clearly have decisions to make in their pursuit of a new stopper.
