Nick Pope eyes free transfer after ‘surprise’ Newcastle exit decision
The 34-year-old is out of contract in June 2027 after the club extended his deal for another season in October 2025.
He was made available for transfer in the summer, but failed to seal a move away despite falling down the goalkeeping pecking order.
Matthias Jaissle is yet to hand him any game time as summer signing Lukas Hornicek impresses between the sticks.
As I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider's Transfer Insider podcast, Pope will explore a January exit but is currently prioritising a move into free agency next summer.
He remains keen to fight for his place with Hornicek and Ewen Jaouen, but seems unlikely to stake his claim as the Magpies' number one anytime soon.
Nick Pope eyeing Newcastle exit at the end of his contract
Sources exclusively revealed to Football Insider last month that Celtic were keen to offer Pope a long-term deal, but all parties involved failed to come to an agreement.
He could attract some real interest next summer as a free agent, with several years of his career left to be a number one elsewhere despite his current struggles on Tyneside.
Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: "Let's see what happens in January. If there are decent options for Nick Pope then it's something he might look at, but he's in a strong position as well. Coming into the final year of his contract, he'll be the master of his own destiny come next summer. If he is out of contract, he can pick and choose where he wants to go as a free agent.
"I think Pope probably surprised a few people in the summer when he didn't push for a move away and was happy to stay and fight for his place at St James' Park, and that remains the case right now."
Jaissle quotes prove that Pope has no way back at Newcastle
The new Magpies manager set his stall out early by targeting a new keeper and ultimately signing Hornicek from Braga.
He is the clear number one, while Frenchman Jaouen, who was signed while Eddie Howe was still in charge, is viewed as a future option and highly rated by those inside the club.
Jaissle's quotes from the start of this month prove how Pope has little chance of breaking into the team, as he said: "I had a clear conversation with Nick already a couple of weeks ago about his position here in the club, and to make a move that's not only a club decision; it's also a decision of the player, often also from an agent.
“But for now he's a member of the squad, and I mentioned that already also in a press conference, that I really appreciate him and what he did for the club already, and how he's dealing with the situation right now.”