According to a recent report by Daily Record, Premier League outfit Newcastle United are said to have identified Motherwell shot-stopper Mark Gillespie as a shock transfer target for the summer. The report suggests that Steve Bruce is keen to find an experienced alternative to Martin Dubravka as the first-choice keeper at St. James’ Park.
What Is Mark Gillespie’s Link To Newcastle United?
The 28-year-old Motherwell shot-stopper was formerly a Newcastle United youth player but eventually ended up coming through the Carlisle United academy. Having been born and raised in Newcastle, it’s safe to say that the Englishman has been influenced by the Magpies’ long-standing history in the area. After spells at lower league clubs Carlisle as well as Walsall, the keeper was signed up by Scottish Premiership outfit Motherwell in the summer of 2018.
What Is Newcastle United’s Current Goalkeeping Situation?
Slovakian international keeper Martin Dubravka has been the first-choice at Newcastle United for quite a while now, and with good reason. The 31-year-old has singlehandedly won the Magpies a plethora of points with his displays between the sticks over the last couple of seasons. An injury to the Slovak is something that Steve Bruce is sure to dread every time his team have to step out onto the pitch.
The English club’s current backup keeping options include Karl Darlow and Rob Elliot, both of whose contracts are set to expire at the end of the current league campaign. Although an extension for either of them is still a viable option, it has been suggested in the report that it is unlikely. Moreover, Elliot is already 33-years-old, and although Darlow is only 29, the Englishman has shown no signs of consistency at any point over the last few years.
What Makes Mark Gillespie An Attractive Option For Newcastle?
Although the fact that the experienced shot-stopper is originally from Tyneside obviously had a positive impact, it must be conceded that his sheer goalkeeping quality had something to do with it as well. The 28-year-old is quite tall and is more than capable of making himself big in dangerous one-on-one situations. The Englishman also has a strong throw on him, which can turn out to be extremely useful for a transitional side like the Magpies.
Is This A Move Steve Bruce Should Go For?
Going into a Premier League campaign with just one recognised keeper in the squad is unthinkable, meaning that unless they give either Darlow or Elliot extensions in the coming months, a goalkeeping addition is to be expected. While there’s no denying that Martin Dubravka is one of the better keepers in the league, providing him with some regular and strong competition by acquiring Gillespie could end up bringing the absolute best out of both of them next season.
