---
title: "Newcastle: Mark Douglas drops update on Freddie Woodman’s future"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-mark-douglas-drops-update-on-freddie-woodmans-future/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "David Comerford"
section: "Newcastle United"
published: "2021-05-31T16:35:05Z"
modified: "2021-05-31T16:35:05Z"
---

# Newcastle: Mark Douglas drops update on Freddie Woodman’s future

**Freddie Woodman could leave Newcastle United this summer because ‘there is no clear path for him’ to the first team, according to [Chronicle Live](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/15million-freddie-woodman-transfer-solution-20708815) journalist Mark Douglas.**

### The lowdown

Woodman impressed on loan at Championship side Swansea City this season, keeping a [league-high 21 clean sheets](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jumplist/weisseweste/wettbewerb/GB2).

The 24-year-old also featured in The Athletic’s [team of the season](https://mobile.twitter.com/TheAthleticUK/status/1394365206105661449) for the division as a result of his heroics as he helped the Swans to reach Saturday’s play-off final, in which they were beaten 2-0 by Brentford.

### The latest

Douglas reported that Swansea are keen on a permanent move for the 24-year-old, who has signalled that he wants to play regular football and [‘is hinting’](https://twitter.com/MsiDouglas/status/1398945668874506248?s=19) that he wants to stay in south Wales.

That may not be possible at Newcastle given that Martin Dubravka signed a [six-year contract](https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/martin-dubravka-signs-new-six-year-deal-with-newcastle-united/) during the 2019/20 season and ‘[is an important voice in the dressing room](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/15million-freddie-woodman-transfer-solution-20708815)‘. Karl Darlow is then ‘[next in line](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/15million-freddie-woodman-transfer-solution-20708815)‘ behind the Slovakian.

Arsenal, where Woodman’s father previously worked as a goalkeeping coach, could also be [among his suitors](https://theathletic.co.uk/2609231/2021/05/27/newcastle-transfer-summer-joe-willock/).

Douglas reckons that £15m is a realistic price tag if Newcastle were to sanction a sale. That deal, though, should include ‘smart clauses’ such as first refusal on future moves or a ‘hefty sell-on’. \[[Chronicle Live](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/15million-freddie-woodman-transfer-solution-20708815)\]

### The verdict

Newcastle need to box clever here. Dubravka is a more than capable number one who [delivered some strong performances](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/46092/MatchStatistics/Martin-D%C3%BAbravka) after his [return from injury](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/martin-dubravka/leistungsdaten/spieler/74960) in the spring and, right now, it makes little sense to deny Woodman a lucrative move in order to keep him as a rarely-used backup.

[It has been reported](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/newcastle-united-transfer-budget-bruce-24184948) that, with Mike Ashley intent on selling the club, Newcastle may have as little as £12m to spend this summer – this deal could more than double their transfer budget.

If they can insert one of the clauses mentioned above, it would be a no-brainer for the Magpies to cash in on the 24-year-old.

**In other news, [Newcastle are in pole position to land this teenage forward](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-transfer-rumours/kyle-joseph-wigan-premier-league/).**