Newcastle have opened negotiations with Southampton over a move for Aaron Ramsdale as they continue their push to strengthen between the posts before the new season.

The Magpies have tabled a proposal for an initial loan deal that includes an option to buy.

Southampton, however, would prefer to sell Ramsdale outright and, if they agree to a temporary switch, they want a sizeable loan fee as part of the arrangement.

Discussions remain ongoing, and no final agreement has been reached yet, according to reports.

Eddie Howe’s side have been pursuing a goalkeeper all summer but are now set to lose out on long-standing target James Trafford.

Manchester City have decided to bring Trafford back, despite previously letting him leave permanently to Burnley.

Newcastle chased the 21-year-old last summer and again at the end of May, offering £27 million for the England Under-21 international before the Club World Cup.

But City had a change of heart, matched that bid and agreed a five-year contract, with the option of a further year, to re-sign the young keeper who left them in 2023.

Ramsdale, now 27, left Arsenal for Southampton in a £25m move last summer and signed a contract that ties him to St Mary’s until 2029.

The England international previously spent three seasons at Bournemouth, working under Howe from 2017 to 2020, before enjoying a strong spell at Arsenal where he was ever-present during their 2022-23 Premier League campaign that ended with a runners-up finish.

However, he lost his place to David Raya the following year, and his first season with Southampton concluded with relegation.

In total, Ramsdale made 32 appearances for the Saints last season and kept three clean sheets, suffering his third drop from the Premier League in his career.

Despite having Nick Pope as their No.1, Newcastle are keen to add competition for the position.

Martin Dubravka, Odysseas Vlachodimos, John Ruddy and Mark Gillespie are also part of the squad’s goalkeeping department, but Howe is looking for a long-term solution.