Calciomercato has recently stated that AS Roma keeper Pau Lopez is set to be sold this summer amid recent interest from Newcastle United. It is believed that the Spanish custodian failed to prove his worth in his debut season in the Serie A, which is why Roma have decided to cash in on him in this off-season.
Lopez’s Lacklustre Spell In Rome So Far
The Girona-born talent was a regular feature in between the sticks at the Italian capital but failed to justify his value as the club’s first-choice keeper. He made a total of 42 appearances for Paulo Fonseca’s side last season, conceding 55 goals and earning nine clean sheets across all fronts.
Lopez did well to average 1.4 clearances and 8.0 long balls per game in the UEFA Europa League last season and distributed the ball with an accuracy of 76.6% in European football (stats via whoscored). The 25-year-old goalie is an experienced campaigner who has previously enjoyed a solid spell in the Spanish top-flight. However, he made a couple of nightmare errors in Europe which cost his team a place in the Europa League quarterfinals earlier this month.
The Spanish shot-stopper has failed to live up to the high expectations surrounding his move to the Stadio Olimpico last summer. Thus, it doesn’t make any sense for the Magpies to opt for a keeper like Lopez, who has not been at his best over the past 12 months.
What Will The Spanish Goalkeeper Bring To St. James’ Park?
Lopez has got quick reflexes that help him pull off some solid stops at the back and is usually a decent handler of the ball when coming out to collect crosses inside his penalty area. The Roma custodian can even position himself ideally to make a few essential clearances for his team. However, he has been prone to making mistakes which can make him a liability on the field.
Should The Magpies Launch A Move For Him This Summer?
Considering all aspects, Steve Bruce is better off staying away from the two-time Spanish international during this summer transfer window. He is far from a reliable presence in goal and won’t be an upgrade over Martin Dubravka at Tyneside next season. However, there is no denying that the Spaniard will significantly bolster the quality of Bruce’s match-day squad if he decides to move to England.
If the Magpies are looking for an ideal back-up for their Slovak first-choice goalie, then they should consider launching a move for Lopez ahead of the new season. Lopez is good enough to keep Dubravka on his toes and could help Newcastle go on a deep run in the FA Cup if Bruce decides to lure him to St. James’ Park this summer.
