Report says Newcastle United will have to pay £40m to bring Premier League star Don Hutchison loves to St James' Park

As the end of the season draws near, more information is starting to surface around what it will take for certain players to switch clubs this summer as Newcastle United narrow down their targets.

Eddie Howe wants a shakeup in goal this summer as Nick Pope's injury record and inability to kick a ball with any accuracy at all have given the Newcastle gaffer a sense of urgency to find a better long-term solution.

Martin Dubravka did a brilliant job deputising for Pope this season and gave Howe a headache over who should be number one, but both are beyond the 30 mark, which isn't as big of a deal for goalkeepers, admittedly, but Paul Mitchell and Eddie Howe are trying to build a team for the future.

This is why Burnley's 22-year-old goalkeeper James Trafford remains a priority for the Magpies, but there are other options out there, one of which received backing from former Liverpool player and Newcastle fan, Don Hutchison just this week.

Getty Images

Liverpool value Caoimhin Kelleher at £40 million

Liverpool's goalkeeping understudy, Caoimhin Kelleher is set to drop down to third-choice at Anfield when Georgian international Giorgi Mamardashvili joins the Reds this summer and as such, is expected to leave Liverpool before next season.

Newcastle United are one of several clubs who will be keen on the Republic of Ireland international, but The Chronicle has reported that things won't be made easy for the Magpies.

They say Liverpool will want £40 million for the stopper, which is twice what the Magpies are expected to pay for James Trafford if the rumours of their prior agreement turn out to be true.

All signs still point towards James Trafford

The other issue Newcastle will face is that Kelleher will be demanding to be the first-choice wherever he goes next, and rightly so; he's definitely a first-team 'keeper.

That may not be as much of a stretch for Newcastle as we, and many other people, would say that Kelleher is better than Pope and should overtake him in the pecking order.

Again, though, James Trafford is set to be cheaper, he's younger and has a long time to go before he hits his prime, while he is already a top-class goalie. He seems like the better bet overall.