Nick Pope: Newcastle in talks to sign Burnley and England goalkeeper

Nick Pope, the goalkeeper for Burnley, has met with Newcastle United officials.

Eddie Howe’s side would benefit from having an alternative to Martin Dubravka in the 30-year-old England international, who has a year left on his contract.

Because of their relegation from the Premier League, Burnley will have to repay part of a £65 million loan.

Pope has eight England caps, the most recent of which came in a 3-0 victory over Ivory Coast in March, but he was named to Gareth Southgate’s Nations League squad.

Any chance he had of making the World Cup in Qatar in November would be boosted by a move to Newcastle.

Following the Saudi Arabian-backed takeover last October, Magpies manager Eddie Howe has been trying to improve his team.

Dubravka, a Slovakian international, made 26 Premier League appearances last season after returning from a foot injury to help Newcastle rise from the bottom of the table to 11th place.

Sven Botman, 22, of Lille, and Hugo Ekitike, 20, of Stade de Reims, are also being pursued by Howe’s side.