Newcastle United goalkeeper Freddie Woodman is being tracked by Premier League duo Arsenal and Fulham, according to the Chronicle.
The regional newspaper report that both clubs are well aware of Woodman’s precarious contract situation, with the stopper not signing a new deal with the Magpies over the summer.
The Chronicle claim that the 21-year-old is waiting to see whether he gets a loan exit in January as multiple EFL clubs line up a swoop, with the 6ft 2in stopper [Transfermarkt] currently able to leave the club on a free in 2020.
OPINION
Newcastle need to act on this situation before it gets out of hand and they end up losing Woodman on a free in what would be a disaster for the club. The young goalkeeper is very highly-rated at St. James’ Park and clearly has the potential to go on and become their number one in the first-team set-up. It was a shambles that Woodman was not allowed to leave on loan in the summer, and it will be an even bigger shambles if that does not happen in January. Whatever his contract situation is, this is a young player who needs as much game time as possible, and he is currently just rotting in the reserves. This situation will merely be causing Woodman to question his position at Newcastle and his standing at the club, something which can only be negative in the long-term. Letting him out on loan will appease Woodman and show him that the Magpies are committed to his development, making it more likely for him to sign a new deal. Another six months in the reserves and he will surely seek a permanent exit in the summer.
