Many Newcastle United fans have been talking about the latest transfer news linking the club with a move for Mark Gillespie.
Chronicle Live’s Lee Ryder recently reported that the Magpies are ‘poised’ to complete the signing of Gillespie and the goalkeeper could become their first signing of the summer. The report states that Gillespie will be a replacement for Rob Elliot and having left Motherwell, he will arrive on a free transfer.
The report also goes on to claim that Steve Bruce is looking at free transfers for next season. This news was relayed on Twitter by NUFC 360 recently. Many Newcastle fans flocked to it and made their negative opinions very clear.
This can’t be real.
— Justin ? (@JustinTerrett) June 25, 2020
Would Gillespie be a downgrade on Elliot?
Yes, surely
He'd be an upgrade
Why
— NoScoringTillBelmont (@MMBNYI) June 25, 2020
We’ve gone from signing Mbappe and Coutinho to signing Mark Gillespie. A day in the life of a Newcastle fan
— Sean (@SeanReesNUFC) June 25, 2020
Excellent we’re back to this signing. The takeover in off everyone ?????
— Gary Meggaz Megson (@TheHonestJohns) June 25, 2020
Gillespie was born in Newcastle and was at the club’s youth academy from 2000 to 2008. However, many Newcastle United fans weren’t too impressed with the club’s chase of the 28-year-old goalkeeper.
#nufctakeover is over then?
— Phil Round (@round_phil) June 25, 2020
Why? How many average keepers do we want.
— Michael Parry (@MickP1964) June 25, 2020
Ashley 13 year extension
— sirjasontoon (@gtperformer84) June 25, 2020
Clearly, these Toon fans won’t be pleased if the club does indeed sign Gillespie in the summer, and some even go on to link the rumours to the potential takeover and see the rumour as a sign that it may not happen.
Gillespie was a regular for Motherwell in the 2019/20 season. He made 38 appearances in all competitions and kept a rather respectable total of 16 clean sheets.
The Magpies already have Martin Dubravka as their first-choice ‘keeper and it is important for Newcastle fans to know that Gillespie isn’t being brought in as a new number one – with the Chronicle suggesting Gillespie would arrive as a No 3. The fact that he will arrive for free will make sure that the club gets a dependable goalkeeper without spending any money on transfer fees.
With Elliot’s contract expiring at the end of this month, getting a replacement for him without spending anything does make sense.