Newcastle fans in the Transfer Tavern believe they are back where they belong following their return to the Premier League.

Rafael Benitez’s successful campaign in the Championship have seen the Magpies back to a place that our landlord believes a side of their stature well and truly belongs – in the Premier League. However, there is still a lot of work to do on the Newcastle squad and a slow start to this summer’s transfer window mean it may be a busy couple of months for the Newcastle hierarchy.

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Benitez does possess pulling power and the likes of Chronicle Live has linked him with a move for Napoli keeper, Pepe Reina. The Spanish goalkeeper was an integral part of Benitez’s Liverpool side earlier in his career but our landlord does not believe that signing Reina will strengthen the Magpies’ squad.

Our resident Geordies agree and they have been discussing the available goalkeepers that are in the market who they believe Benitez should be looking into signing. Some of the Toon Army in the Tavern don’t even think that current number one, Karl Darlow, should be replaced and that has also added to the debate.

The debate has more or less reached a climax and the Toon Army in the Tavern have listed the players Newcastle should sign instead of Pepe Reina.

Joe Hart

The England number one is certainly not in Pep Guardiola’s plans and our landlord believes Newcastle would be a brilliant destination for a footballer who simply just wants to be adored by his clubs’ fans.

Hart’s passion for the game matches that of our resident Magpies and they would love to see a player who visibly cares defending their goal as they know Hart will always give their side 100% commitment, something that they didn’t have in their squad in the season they got relegated.

David Ospina

The Arsenal keeper is in the hunt for more regular football despite playing all the FA Cup and European ties for his club last season and our landlord believes he would be a fantastic fit for Newcastle.

Ospina’s last outing was an impressive showing in the FA Cup final and on that day he showed he is good as anyone in the Premier League in goal which is something the Newcastle fans in the Tavern have picked up on. There is no doubt they’d rather see Ospina in goal over Pepe Reina.