Newcastle United journalist Liam Kennedy has been sharing his thoughts on Toon goalkeeper Freddie Woodman and his future at the Tyneside club.
This comes after Kennedy made an appearance on a recent episode of #NUFC Matters with Steve Wraith on his YouTube channel where he spoke about a variety of topics concerning Steve Bruce’s side.
On the subject of Woodman, who spent the 2020/21 season on loan at Championship side Swansea City, Kennedy had this to say about the shot-stopper’s future. (16.30)
He said: “I think the least likely, in my opinion, of happening to Woodman this summer is that he comes back and stays.
“I think that’s probably the least likely that he will sit on the bench all season, he won’t want that. And I think given the tensions that there’s been throughout Woodman’s time here with regards to game time, I think the club would probably be wise to avoid doing that unless he sees that as beneficial.
“But I would imagine a lad who has been playing 40-odd games a season won’t want to come and play two league cup games and one FA Cup third-round in a season when he could be out there playing for somebody at the top end of the Championship.
“It’s going to be difficult to get him a Premier League loan, I think everybody accepts that, so maybe, and it is just a maybe, he might end up back at Swansea.”
Newcastle signed Woodman back in 2013 from Crystal Palace’s U18 squad for a fee of £90k. Since then, the 24-year-old, who is currently valued at £9 million, has been on numerous loan spells away from St. James’ Park.
Overall, the goalkeeper has made just four senior appearances for Newcastle (per Transfermarkt).
TIF Thoughts on Liam Kennedy’s comments on Woodman and his future…
Given how Newcastle currently have Martin Dubravka and Karl Darlow in their squad who both have much more experience of playing for the club than Woodman, it does seem likely that the 24-year-old wouldn’t be guaranteed regular playing time at St. James’ Park next season.
What should Newcastle do with Woodman this summer?
Keep him in the squad for next season
Loan him out again
Sell him
If this were to be the case, we feel that it would undoubtedly be more beneficial for Woodman to perhaps move to a club where he would be their first-choice shot-stopper.
In our view, if Woodman wouldn’t be getting much game time at Newcastle next season, then another loan move would probably be the better option for him at this stage, but given his age, and if he has enough quality, then he could potentially grow to be the club’s first-choice goalkeeper in the future.