Nick Pope offered Newcastle transfer escape route by two Premier League rivals as Eddie Howe closes in on first signing

LEEDS UNITED and Ipswich are battling it out to sign Newcastle’s Nick Pope.

The England international goalkeeper, 34, is now weighing up whether to end his four-year stay on Tyneside or fight for his place.

Newcastle will make Reims’ French U21 stopper Ewen Jaouen their first summer signing next week.

But boss Eddie Howe is also on the lookout for another established goalie as part of his Toon rebuild.

Brighton’s Dutch ace Bart Verbruggen and Manchester City’s James Trafford are both top targets – but any move could depend on Pope.

He suffered a major loss of form last term that cost his place in the side. Now he has to decide whether to fight for the No1 shirt on Tyneside or depart for guaranteed football elsewhere.

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Pope triggered a new 12-month extension earlier this year to tie him to the Mags until 2027, but is understood to be available for £5m.

And that could be viewed as a bargain for both Leeds and Ipswich as they look to strengthen their goalkeeping departments.

Daniel Farke’s Whites faces a particularly interesting summer in that position with three of his four senior keepers out of contract this month.

Karl Darlow, Illan Meslier and Alex Cairns are set to become free agents, while Brazilian Lucas Perri failed to impress after his £13.9m arrival from Lyon last summer.

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Following a series of errors, he was replaced by Darlow, and last appeared in the top-flight in January.

Leeds want to keep Welsh veteran Darlow, who is interesting Tottenham, but are also looking to bring in another experienced Prem goalie to challenge for the No1 spot even if he stays.

And a cut-price swoop for Pope could be too tempting to resist and allow Farke to focus on strengthening elsewhere.

But promoted Ipswich, whose academy Pope spent time at as a kid, also want a proven Prem stopper to help their bid for survival.

Christian Walton ended their Championship campaign as No1 after retaining the spot from Alex Palmer, though boss Kieran McKenna could view ex-Burnley man Pope as a safer pair of hands.

Both clubs are believed to have made their interest known in Pope and Newcastle appear to be willing to let him decide his future as long as they secure their own seasoned replacement.