Newcastle United are seemingly putting plans in place to sell Arsenal target Freddie Woodman with rumoured interest in Accrington Stanley goalkeeper Toby Savin.
What’s the word?
According to The Sun, top Toon scout Mick Tait personally ran the rule over Savin last week as Newcastle look to snap up bright up-and-coming talents.
But the St. James’ Park natives face a fight to obtain the 6 ft 4 shot-stopper, as Manchester United are also said to be keen.
Should Newcastle sign Accrington’s Savin?
Yes, he’s got real potential
No, he isn’t good enough
The Red Devils are understood to have sent Tony Cotton on a fact-finding mission to the Crown Ground recently, where Savin has broken through this season.
Accrington boss John Coleman handed the 20-year-old his League One debut in a 2-0 win at home to Peterborough United in September, and has picked the youngster a further 19 times.
Savin has kept six clean sheets over his 20 outings in the third-tier to date, to help his side sit comfortably clear of the drop zone and with a chance of making the Play-Offs.
The young Englishman had lost the number one position at Accrington in December after opening the first 14 games of the season, but regained the role following an injury for Nathan Baxter at the start of the month.
Stanley rewarded Savin with a new, three-year contract shortly following his League One debut, keeping him tied down until the summer of 2023.
Should Newcastle sign Savin?
Newcastle signing Savin would be a clear sign of the Tyneside outfit looking toward the future over the here and now, but would seemingly see them acquire a very promising option who could go on to rival Martin Dubravka or Karl Darlow at St. James’ Park.
The Toon may face a lot of competition, though, as not only have Man United been linked, but Southampton were touted as a possible destination earlier in the season after identifying Savin as a potential replacement for Angus Gunn or Fraser Forster (The Sun, 22/11/2020, p. 61).
Coleman admitted Accrington would struggle to hold off their academy product if Premier League offers were to arrive at the Crown Ground, and has often been full of praise for the youngster who was “outstanding” at the start of the season.
“Savin has pulled off another unbelievable save at the end [against Lincoln City] and it will be hard for us to keep hold of him,” he told the Lancashire Telegraph in November.
Coleman also noted in October: “Fleetwood took the game to us in the first half and our keeper made some great saves. Toby has played out of his skin.”
Yet Newcastle moving to be the side that acquires Savin could be a sign of Woodman nearing the end of his time at the club, having been linked with a move to Arsenal earlier this year and touted for an uncertain summer.
Reports by Chronicle Live have claimed Woodman has no interest in returning from his second season on loan with Swansea City to sit on the bench, after keeping 18 clean sheets in 36 Championship games this term.
The Toon will have to make a decision on the £8m-rated shot-stopper’s future with Dubravka and Darlow both getting minutes this season, so could be viewing Savin as their new future number one.
AND in other news, Newcastle’s hopes of signing a “standout performer” have taken a major blow…