CORNELLA, SPAIN - MAY 15: Joan Garcia of RCD Espanyol gestures during the Spanish league, La Liga EA Sports, football match played between RCD Espanyol and FC Barcelona at RCDE Stadium on May 15, 2025 in Cornella, Barcelona, Spain. (Photo By Javier Borrego/Europa Press via Getty Images)
Newcastle United are serious about their recruitment this summer as they prepare to compete once again in the Champions League next season.
Eddie Howe has already held meetings with the owners of the club to establish a budget and strategy for the transfer window, but will be working on top targets without the support of sporting director Paul Mitchell.
The departure of the ex-Tottenham Hotspur recruitment genius was officially confirmed by the club earlier this week, which came as a shock to supporters, considering he only completed 12 months on Tyneside.
Nevertheless, the Magpies will have no trouble attracting top talent to the North East this summer, given their domestic success this season with silverware earned and European football ahead.
Targeting depth in the right areas of the squad will be essential for Newcastle to comfortably compete across competitions, and the goalkeeper position has been a strong talking point over the last few weeks and months.
Burnley shot-stopper James Trafford has been consistently linked with a move to Tyneside over the last 18 months, with the club even making a £16m bid to sign the youngster last summer.
However, with the Championship club bouncing back to the Premier League next season after earning automatic promotion, a deal may be more difficult for Newcastle to get done.
According to Spanish news outlet Mundo Deportivo (via Sports Witness), Newcastle United are one of the many clubs interested in signing Espanyol keeper Joan Garcia, but will face strong competition for his signature.
It is claimed that Manchester City have joined the wide-open race to sign the talented Spaniard alongside Barcelona, who are considered as the front-runners in the chase for the £21m man.
Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Napoli and Inter Milan are also named as potential options for Garcia, who recently met with his agent to discuss the right move for him ahead of making a definitive choice.
Should Newcastle sign Joan Garcia?
Garcia has been deservedly attracting huge attention for his performances for Espanyol and if Newcastle could pull off a deal for the talented shot-stopper, they would have an incredible asset for the long-term future.
In an interview with Eleven Sports, Barcelona keeper and La Liga title winner Wojciech Szczesny said:
“I want to praise Joan Garcia. I think he’s the best goalkeeper in La Liga and has a very big future ahead of him.”
“He’s one of the best goalkeepers in Spain and Europe right now.”
The 24-year-old has tallied up 64 appearances for his Spanish side in all competitions, taking the number one shirt at his boyhood club at the beginning of the 2022/23 season and has been shining ever since.
Back on Tyneside, Nick Pope has been a consistent and reliable keeper for Howe but at 33 years old is not the long-term solution between the sticks, so an investment into his successor would be worthwhile.
Currently it is unknown whether the Newcastle boss is looking for an immediate starter to replace Pope next season, or a player that can grow into the role and become a promising number two that can be trusted to rotate in the short-term.
Either way, it will be interesting to see if Newcastle will make a concrete approach for Garcia in the coming days, as they could be in a position to miss out on his services if they rest on their laurels.
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