Newcastle have given rising star Freddie Woodman the green light to go out on loan against next season, according to the Daily Record.
The Scottish newspaper claim Hearts have joined fellow Scottish Premiership sides Aberdeen and Kilmarnock in the race to land the 21-year-old, while there is also interest from English Championship and League One clubs.
The Daily Record report that Newcastle will allow Woodman to spend 2018-19 out on loan after his heroics for England Under-21s at the Toulon Tournament, where he was named the competition’s best keeper.
OPINION
Given that Newcastle have converted Martin Dubravka’s 2017-18 loan into a permanent deal, and Karl Darlow and Rob Elliot are on the books – not to mention Matz Sels, although he is set to join Anderlecht – there is simply no rhyme or reason for Woodman to spent next season at his parent club. He needs the experience of regular football, and there are plenty of clubs north and south of the border crying out for a brilliant young keeper. Standing at 6ft 2in (source: Transfermarkt), Woodman has all the tools to make it in senior football and he made a good impression while on loan at Aberdeen in the second half of last season. Whether he is willing to return is a moot point, given that he was relegated to the bench for the final months of the campaign as the Dons punched above their weight to finish second in the table. Woodman will need to think long and hard about where he goes, as it makes no sense to join a club where there is intense competition for the number one shirt.
