Freddie Woodman could depart Newcastle United in January, according to The Chronicle‘s Lee Ryder.
The lowdown
The 24-year-old started Newcastle’s first four Premier League matches this season but hasn’t featured since. With Martin Dubravka and Karl Darlow fit again after starting the campaign injured, he looks to be the Magpies’ third choice between the sticks.
Woodman, who has been hailed as an ‘excellent’ goalkeeper by former Magpies defender Steve Howey, was on the verge of joining Bournemouth on loan in the summer before Newcastle pulled the plug on the deal at the 11th hour after learning of Dubravka’s injury.
The latest
Ryder wrote in The Chronicle that the departure of a goalkeeper could free up a space in the Newcastle squad for a new arrival, and Woodman looks the most likely candidate after slipping down the pecking order behind Dubravka and Darlow.
A prospective loan move could well be revived for the 24-year-old when the window opens, according to this report.
The verdict
Woodman had his chance to impress at the beginning of the season but he didn’t really grasp it. He conceded 12 goals from a post-shot xG of just 8.7, one of the poorest shot-stopping records in the Premier League (via FBRef).
The £9m-rated stopper kept more clean sheets than any other Championship netminder while he was on loan at Swansea City in 2020/21, but now he might need to rebuild his reputation with another stint in the second tier.
With the 24-year-old failing to even make the matchday squad for any of Newcastle’s games in November, it’s not hard to see why Ryder has toured him for a potential January exit.
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