Newcastle United seemingly did not roll out the red carpet when they tried to tempt Giorgi Mamardashvili to Tyneside.
The 23-year-old goalkeeper has been linked with a move to Newcastle United this summer, with Eddie Howe wanting to add a new shot-stopper to his squad.
With Loris Karius leaving and Martin Dubravka possibly following him out the door, there is a real need for a new goalkeeper, and Mamardashvili was initially the club’s preferred choice.
But it does not look like he is on his way to St James’ Park, with the Magpies moving for Burnley’s James Trafford instead.
The 21-year-old is nowhere near as good, but he is a little bit younger, and will arrive as an understudy to Nick Pope. He will be the number two, but is seemingly still keen on the prospect of becoming a Newcastle United player.
However, that possibility did not appeal to Mamardashvili, who Newcastle deemed to be too expensive at £35million.
How Newcastle United’s talks with Giorgi Mamardashvili went
That is according to Spanish outlet Plaza Deportiva, who have provided details on how Newcastle United’s talks with the Valencia stopper went.
They state that the Magpies would not promise Mamardashvili a guaranteed place in the starting XI, which did not go down well with the Georgia international.
Plaza Deportiva add that he did not find the prospect of moving to Newcastle appealing, as he did not get the impression that he would be important to the team.
Newcastle show faith in Nick Pope with Mamardashvili stance
That is quite the show of faith in Nick Pope, who looks set to be Howe’s number one yet again next season.
That will not be a problem with Trafford in reserve, but it would be if Mamardashvili had arrived. Given his ability and his experience with Valencia, he will understandably expect to be first choice wherever he ends up.
And with Newcastle not having as many games to play due to missing out on Europe, Howe will not have the chance to chop and change his goalkeeper to give two players enough minutes.
And if Newcastle had promised to make Mamardashvili their number one, that would have left Pope in a precarious position. He will not want to be on the bench, and it could have resulted in him seeking a move away. In turn, that would have forced the Magpies to sign yet another goalkeeper.
Instead, Howe is sticking with Pope, while the club tries to bring in a player in Trafford who could prove to be his long-term successor when the time is right.
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