Lead
Matthias Jaissle has indicated that Nick Pope could still leave Newcastle after the Premier League transfer deadline, with some overseas transfer windows remaining open. The Newcastle manager did not signal that a move was close, but his comments leave Pope’s future unresolved while options remain available in other markets.
Newcastle and other Premier League clubs cannot make new signings until January, but the transfer windows in several countries remain open. That distinction is central to Pope’s situation. Asked about the goalkeeper’s future at his pre-Bournemouth press conference, Jaissle said there were still destinations where players could move and explained that any potential departure would involve the club, the player and often an agent.
What Jaissle actually said
Jaissle’s comments were reported by CaughtOffside in a report published on September 4, which attributed the manager’s remarks to Read Newcastle. According to that reporting, Jaissle had already held a clear conversation with Pope about his position at the club a couple of weeks earlier.
The manager also expressed appreciation for Pope’s contribution to Newcastle and for the way the goalkeeper has handled his current circumstances. For now, Jaissle said Pope remains a member of the squad. That leaves room for a move should the relevant parties reach an agreement before the remaining windows close.
Why the situation remains open
Pope has dropped down Newcastle’s goalkeeping order following the arrivals of Lukas Hornicek, now established as first choice, and Ewen Jaouen as backup, a combined investment of more than £44 million this summer. Pope, who joined from Burnley in 2022, is also entering the final year of his contract, making it an awkward and potentially costly outcome for Newcastle if he simply stays on without featuring. Notably, he had already been told he was free to find a new club before Jaissle’s own appointment as Eddie Howe’s successor.
ChronicleLive reported that Newcastle sources had played down talk of Pope benefiting from the Scottish transfer window after he did not secure a move to an English club. The same report noted that windows in Scotland and Turkey were among those still open, alongside opportunities in Holland, Belgium, Portugal and the Saudi Pro League.
The available windows therefore provide a route for a deal in principle, but they do not establish that a transfer is imminent. Jaissle’s position was that there were several parts to any deal and that Newcastle would need to see how matters developed.
The clubs previously linked
Ipswich Town and Leeds United both had proposed moves for Pope fail to materialise earlier in the window, while Celtic and Hull City have also shown interest without either developing into anything concrete. ChronicleLive also reported that interest from Celtic remained feasible while the Scottish window was open, although Newcastle sources were reported to have downplayed the prospect.
Those previous links offer context rather than confirmation of an active deal. The reports do not identify an agreement for Pope to join another club, and Jaissle’s remarks did not name a destination.
Source Attribution
This article is based on CaughtOffside’s September 4 report, which attributed Jaissle’s comments to Read Newcastle, and supplementary reporting from ChronicleLive, Yahoo Sports and Goal.com on the transfer windows that remained open and Newcastle’s stance on Pope’s options.
The Verdict
Jaissle’s comments establish that a Pope exit remained possible after the Premier League deadline because some overseas windows were still open. They do not, however, confirm that a move was agreed or nearing completion.
Pope remains a member of Newcastle’s squad, according to Jaissle. With no destination identified in the cited reports, and Newcastle already carrying more than £44 million in fresh goalkeeping investment, the situation is best viewed as unresolved rather than settled.
