After their move for Aaron Ramsdale collapsed, Arsenal are in the market for a senior goalkeeper to challenge number one Bernd Leno, with Freddie Woodman being the latest on their radar.
The Gunners attempted to include Woodman in a player-plus-cash deal for Joe Willock earlier on in the summer but the midfielder joined up permanently for £25 million ahead of their season opener against West Ham United.
Woodman, 24, has never made a senior appearance for Newcastle and has spent the last two seasons on loan at Swansea City, largely impressing at Championship level.
Woodman's shot-stopping credentials were tested while on loan in South Wales, finding a renewed confidence in a team challenging for promotion and earning plaudits for his 20 clean sheets.
Although Woodman was on the verge of the exit door this summer, fitness concerns over Martin Dubravka and Karl Darlow mean he is set to start at St James Park today against the Hammers.
Woodman is third in the pecking order when Steve Bruce has a fully fit goalkeeping roster which perhaps highlights the quality that the Toon possesses in the goalkeeping department, with Karl Darlow emerging as a clear favourite for a large majority of the last season.
Darlow grasped his opportunity with open arms after usual number one Martin Dubravka sustained a heel bone injury at the start of the last campaign, featuring in 25 of Newcastle's 38 Premier League games before being sidelined towards the end of the season.
Arsenal let go of Emiliano Martinez to Aston Villa last year and turned to Alex Runarsson as his replacement in what was a calamitous appointment by the Gunners.
The main complication to the deal is the injury to Martin Dubravka and having to wait for him to return means Arsenal's pursuit of Woodman has to be put on hold.
Gunners supporters can be forgiven for being underwhelmed with links to a goalkeeper that has never featured at Premier League level, but it is one that suits both parties.
While some are seeing the move as a risk, others acknowledge that Woodman would fill the quota of having enough homegrown players and given his age, he would be an investment that could reap future rewards.
Here is how Arsenal supporters have reacted to the news linking them with Freddie Woodman:
@MarcoYasuke98: Why must we buy a English GK ? I don't understand, so we can't fulfill the quota in other lesser positions. Navas world class GK just sitting there
@cdavison_afc: #AFC | Dubravka's injury is a tad annoying, as I strongly believe Freddie Woodman could be the perfect choice for us. That's not to say a deal can't be done, but I'd assume it would complicate matters. If all else fails, Johnstone would be a solid option. Only negative is age.
@Smith9Stu: Brilliant option. Now sell Leno and get Onana in if possible.
@trunghung182: Saw him in action at playoff last year between Swansea and Brentford, I like that kind of GK.
@myers1174: Played well for Swansea i believe looked good
