NEWCASTLE are weighing up a shock move for David de Gea to replace crocked keeper Nick Pope.
But Arsenal warned Toon boss Eddie Howe to forget any January swoop for out-of-favour Aaron Ramsdale.
Pope has been KO’d for FIVE MONTHS after dislocating his shoulder in Saturday’s 1-0 Prem win over Manchester United.
The Magpies are considering plunging for ex-Manchester United No 1 and free agent De Gea.
The Spaniard, 33, has been without a club since being dumped by United in the summer.
Toon No.2 Martin Dubravka will be given the chance to stake his claim before Howe decides whether to bring in a replacement.
Ramsdale, 25, is another option having lost his Gunners place to David Raya, but a January switch could cost over £40million.
And Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta insisted: “I am very happy to have two very good keepers and Aaron is staying with us.
“I want him with us. Like every other player, he wants to play for Arsenal and we want to be better as a team, so we want to add to what we already have in January and that is our intention.”
Yet Ramsdale has already been warned by England boss Gareth Southgate that his place in his squad for next summer’s European Championships will be in jeopardy if he is not playing regular first team football.
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And his father, Nick, has angered Arsenal by criticising the way his son has been replaced by Raya after he was a Premier League ever-present last season.
Arteta revealed: “I have spoken to Aaron about England and I don’t expect it to be an issue.
“It’s not like he has started a lot of games for England so hopefully we can help him be better here at Arsenal so then he can play for his country.”
Ramsdale, a £30m signing from Sheffield United in 2021, signed a new four-year Emirates contract in May but has managed just one Prem appearance in the last three months and has been on the bench for all of Arsenal’s Champions League games.
Dubravka spent three-and-a-half years as Toon’s first-choice goalie before Pope signed from Burnley for £10m in 2022, yet the Slovakian played second fiddle to De Gea on loan at Old Trafford last season.
De Gea spent 12 years at United and landed the Prem’s Golden Glove award last season but left after he wasn’t offered a new contract and was replaced at Old Trafford by Andre Onana.
Nobody has come in for the Spanish stopper since, with his last appearance the FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City in June.
Pope’s long-term absence is just the latest hammer blow to Howe’s injury-ravaged squad.
The 31-year-old was left in agony after diving to his left towards the end of the win over United.
The joint was quickly popped back into position but he will need an operation, which will see him sidelined for around five months and in a race to play again this season.
Pope has been in excellent form but, having been left out of recent England squads, has his work cut out making the Three Lions squad for next summer’s Euros.
Ex-Liverpool keeper Loris Karius will be Dubravka’s back-up ahead of Mark Gillespie.
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