Newcastle tipped to sign ‘real star’ this summer after £20m Robert Sanchez update – pundit
Noel Whelan has backed Newcastle to address their goalkeeping shortcomings by signing Brighton’s Robert Sanchez this summer.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, branded the 24-year-old a “real star for the future”.
According to The Sun (2 April), Newcastle are tracking Sanchez and are lining up a £20million offer ahead of the summer transfer window.
The Magpies, who are set to appoint former Brighton chief Dan Ashworth as their director of football, have already raided the Seagulls for Dan Burn since their mega-money takeover in 2021.
Sanchez has kept eight clean sheets in 29 Premier League appearances this season.
Whelan insisted the arrival of the 25-year-old would give Martin Dubravka some welcome competition for places.
“There’s no doubt they need these sorts of reinforcements,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.
“They are going to need strength in depth in order to make their way up the table.
“At 24 years of age, he is someone who can have that longevity at the club – as we know, goalkeepers can go on to play into their forties. He’s a real star for the future, a Spain international already.
“Sanchez coming in certainly wouldn’t hurt. It’s a bit of competition for Dubravka, who has really steadied the ship since coming back in.
“I thought when he was out, they were really lacking in the goalkeeping department, so Eddie Howe will be looking to address that situation immediately.”
Sanchez is a full Spain international and was named in their squad for Euro 2020.
The Seagulls academy product is under contract at the Amex Stadium until June 2025.
In other news, we have a critical update on Newcastle bid to sign Hugo Ekitike after talks held.