Newcastle United are in the market for a new goalkeeper and have been linked with Bart Verbruggen
Brighton & Hove Albion’s Bart Verbruggen celebrates with team-mates(Image: 2026 CameraSport)
Brighton and Hove Albion have set their sights on a replacement for goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen in this summer’s transfer window which could give Newcastle United the green light to move for the Dutch international.
The Magpies are set to be in the market for a new goalkeeper this summer, with both Aaron Ramsdale and Nick Pope flattering to deceive in between the sticks this season.
It would be a surprise if Ramsdale’s loan move from Southampton is turned into a permanent deal, while Pope is under contract until the end of next season and should he remain on Tyneside, he would be doing so as the club’s second choice goalkeeper.
United are set to go in a new direction and have been heavily linked with a move for Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford. Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel has also been watched while Lens shot-stopper Robin Risser is also on the club’s radar.
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And Verbruggen is also thought to be high on the Magpies’ list. The 23-year-old has been Brighton’s number one goalkeeper for the past three seasons since joining from Anderlecht and has not only established himself as the Dutch number one, but also as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League.
Interest is set to be high in him this summer, as he enters into the final two years of his contract at the AMEX Stadium, and the Seagulls are already drawing up contingency plans in case he moves to Newcastle, or elsewhere, in the close season.
According to Sky Sports in Germany, Noah Atubolu is on Brighton’s shortlist for next season after impressing for Bundesliga side, Freiburg.
Goalkeeper Noah Atubolu of SC Freiburg is claimed to be on Brighton’s radar ahead of the summer
The 23-year-old is out of contract at the end of next season and is expected to leave the Europa-Park Stadion this summer as Freiburg look to mitigate the risk of him leaving for free in a year’s time.
Atubolu was a Germany under-21 team-mate of Nick Woltemade last summer as they reached the European Championship final and has been a key part of the Freiburg side that look set to reach this season’s Europa League semi-finals.
His arrival in Sussex could free up Verbruggen to leave and give Newcastle the green light to make their move. The Dutch international is set to be a man in demand with Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur also linked with his services this summer.
Speaking about Verbruggen’s future last month, Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler said: “I am not worried. If young players develop faster than we do as a club, then there will always be bigger clubs who go for this player.
“In the end it’s also a positive thing if big clubs try to get our players, because it shows a lot of good things regarding recruitment and the good work my coaches do with him. The World Cup is in three or four months, so that’s a long time to go to perform at the World Cup. Now it’s about him performing.”