'I am told': Journalist now says what he's hearing around Newcastle United's pursuit of 26-year-old Liverpool star

It is looking increasingly likely that veteran goalkeeper Martin Dubravka is on his way out of Newcastle United this month and while Nick Pope is on the road to recovery, it leaves Eddie Howe with a quandary.

Even though Newcastle brought in John Ruddy and Odysseas Vlachodimos in the summer, the former's role is as a glorified training dummy and the latter was purely a business move to avoid the club being hit with a points deduction for breaching PSR.

Vlachodimos came Newcastle's way as part of the arrangement for Nottingham Forest to sign Elliot Anderson, and while the Magpies forked out £20 million for the Greece international, Eddie Howe seemingly has no plans to use the 30-year-old.

However, if Drubravka leaves this week as expected, he may have to as Pope isn't expected to return to action until later this month.

Caoimhin Kelleher could become Newcastle's Number 1

Newcastle are still shopping for goalkeepers with Burnley's James Trafford still of interest, although attention has recently turned to Liverpool's backup 'keeper Caoimhin Kelleher who has proven his worth this season covering for first-choice, Allison while the Brazilian was injured.

However, Liverpool have former Newcastle target Giorgi Mamardashvili inbound this summer which could see Kelleher bumped to third-choice, which he'll not be too chuffed about, therefore Newcastle could move to rescue him.

If that's the case, we feel Kelleher would have what it takes to be Newcastle's number one over Nick Pope. But the Magpies face competition for Kelleher, but now Ben Jacobs has revealed something he's been told that could give Newcastle hope.

Ben Jacobs says there's 'some substance' to rumours linking Newcastle to Kelleher

Speaking on the Fully Loaded Transfer Show (around the 40-minute mark), Jacobs shared what he's been told about Kelleher potentially moving to Chelsea or Newcastle.

“Kelleher at Liverpool is another [goalkeeper] that Newcastle really like. There is a market opportunity there because Mamardashvili is coming in, Alisson may well stay and Mamardashvili might not be the number one next season.

“There is no indication so far that Liverpool plan on loaning Mamardashvili out to keep it as Alisson and Kelleher next season, so Kelleher suddenly is likely to become a number three which is not something he is comfortable with. He doesn’t really want to stay as a number two either.

“We heard some reports that Chelsea might come in the mix for Kelleher, but I am told there is some substance to Newcastle and Kelleher.”