The bizarre Newcastle United transfer rumour that is beyond laughable

Delight and relief enveloped the away end at Molineux after a Harvey Barnes wonder goal had helped Newcastle United come from a goal down to take the lead against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

With a neat touch to take him between two home defenders, Barnes had expertly created enough space to allow him to get a sumptuous, curling shot away that left Wolves keeper Jose Sa to act as a mere onlookers as the ball evaded his desperate grasp before nestling into the top right-hand corner of his net. Barnes bounded towards a chaotic away end with arms wide open as Magpies supporters became a mass of wildly flailing limbs. Just has he had with Wolves defenders seconds earlier, Barnes had left several team-mates trailing in his wake as he made his way towards the away end - but they caught up with him as the United players joined their supporters in one mass display of elation and togetherness.

Just minutes later, with the clock ticking into eight minutes of injury-time and the home side pouring forwards in search of an equaliser, Wolves forward Matheus Cunha was presented with an opportunity as the Magpies struggled to deal with a cross into the area. The loose ball popped the way of the Brazilian international and his connection was sweet and true as he fired what seemed like an unstoppable volley towards Nick Pope’s goal.

With what felt like the vast majority of the 30,225 supporters in attendance rising to their feet to give acclaim to a much-needed equaliser as Gary O’Neil’s side look to kickstart their season, Magpies keeper Pope made a stunning stop to not only get a hand on the shot but also forced it away from his goal. The importance of his save in Newcastle’s season may not be fully appreciated for a number of months - but the win it helped preserve has helped Eddie Howe’s side move some way forwards from what has been an awkward opening to the campaign on and off the pitch.

The importance of the save, and of his number one goalkeeper, was certainly not lost on the Magpies manager. Speaking after the game, he said: "I’m really pleased for Nick. Whenever a player goes away on international duty, it’s always a different dynamic. With the players that we keen here, we can really focus on what they’re doing and we’re in tune with their performances. When players go away, they miss our contact time and there’s always that trust about how they’re going to come back, but you can see how Nick has come back, and the effect he has on the team. He made two or three great saves that ultimately end up helping us win the game. He’s a top-class goalkeeper and I’m delighted for him.”

Despite having four other senior goalkeepers in his Magpies ranks following the summer signings of John Ruddy and Odysseas Vlachodimos, somehow United feel somewhat short-handed in such a key area. Martin Dubravka, who was widely expected to leave St. James’ Park during the summer, struggled to hit the heights of the early years of his time on Tyneside when he deputised for Pope after the England international suffered a serious shoulder injury last season.

The addition of Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Vlachodimos was questionable at best and seems to have been made with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability regulations in mind as it was used to force through Elliot Anderson’s move to the City Ground that helped the Magpies avoid a financial penalty. Ruddy is an experienced head but is far from a first-choice goalkeeper or even a stand-in and Mark Gillespie, although a valued presence in and around the Magpies dressing room, has made just three senior appearances for Newcastle, with the last of that trio coming four years ago this week in a 1-0 home win in a Carabao Cup tie against Blackburn Rovers.

Pope may well be one of many - but in reality, he is the one Howe can rely upon. At 32-years-old, there is a need for a long-term replacement for Pope, hence Newcastle’s interest in a summer move for Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford. That interest remains very much alive and it seems likely the Magpies will revisit their bid for the England Under-21 international in the near future. However, with neither Vlachodimos, Ruddy or Gillespie likely to either seriously challenge of unseat Pope as Howe’s number one, it seems the former Burnley goalkeeper is essential and integral to the Magpies plans moving forward. That is why suggestions of a potential January move to Everton seem almost laughable.

On the face of it, there is no doubt Sean Dyche would relish an opportunity to reunite with his former Burnley goalkeeper at Goodison Park as Jordan Pickford continues to receive criticism for his performances in the early weeks of the season. Pope would provide the Toffees boss with a trusted and reliable stopper as his side look to preserve their Premier League status and move on from a difficult start to the season. Perhaps such speculation has been fuelled by the fact Pope will venture into the final 18 months of his current deal at Newcastle in the new year - but an extension, even just a year-by-year approach, seems far more likely than any departure to Everton and a reunion with his former Clarets boss.