Eddie Howe now looking to Championship side QPR for outbound Loris Karius replacement

While Newcastle United continue to be linked with Giorgi Mamardashvili and Aaron Ramsdale to bolster Eddie Howe's options for goalkeeper, there's still the task of replacing third-choice 'keeper Loris Karius.

In what seems to be the clearest sign yet that Martin Dubravka is heading for the exit at St James' Park, Newcastle have reportedly added another goalkeeper to their list of targets and it's unlikely that he's seen as the one to come in and push Nick Pope, which is what Mamardashvili or Ramsdale would be brought in to do.

If Howe was to sign Ramsdale and another goalie to replace Karius, then we'd be overloaded in that position, so it definitely seems like the Magpies are preparing for a dual goalkeeper exit.

Unless, that is, Eddie Howe feels QPR's 36-year-old stopper Asmir Begovic is the right man to challenge Nick Pope for the number one spot next season as that's who we're now being linked with by West London Sport.

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Begovic is a well-toured Premier League goalkeeper

Begovic has bags of Premier League experience having represented Stoke, Portsmouth Bournemouth and Everton before moving to QPR last year.

The Bosnian played in every game for QPR except their final game of the season and kept 13 clean sheets for the Rangers while conceding 57 goals in 45 Championship games.

Newcastle aren't the only Premier League side weighing up a move for Begovic with West Ham also considering a move.

Do we really need four goalkeepers?

Our goalkeeper situation is absolutely baffling. We have Mark Gillespie who gets paid to train, then we had Loris Karius who gets wheeled out in a crisis, and Martin Dubravka as understudy to Nick Pope, but with Karius going, why not just move Gillespie up to third-choice and callup Aidan Harris when needed if we have another goalkeeper injury crisis?

Replace Dubravka with someone of a similar quality to Pope so we have strong competition again, somebody young who can learn from Pope but also push him to be better before taking over long term. Mamardashvili, Ramsdale and James Trafford all fit the bill.

Having a fourth goalkeeper just doesn't make sense. Gillespie made it to the bench on a handful of occasions but was never used and that was in a season where our 'keepers were hit by injuries, so it shows that we only need three.