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The summer of 2022 was an exciting time to be a Newcastle United fan. Premier League survival had been achieved when relegation looked an almost certainty six months earlier, big-money

transfers were heading to St James' Park and there was an growing optimism that this was the start of something special for the club. Fast forward three years and the there is a similar

sense of anticipation as Newcastle approach the transfer window with money to spend and ambitious plans in place. Alexander Isak and Sven Botman were the two eye-catching summer deals in

2022 as Eddie Howe enhanced his United squad after a January window which had seen Bruno Guimaraes, Kieran Trippier and Dan Burn make a huge difference to the side. There were a few eyebrows

raised when Howe raided Burnley to sign goalkeeper Nick Pope. Not because of any question marks over Pope's ability, but at a time when the squad needed significant improvement, the

club had opted to sign a keeper to replace Martin Dubravka as No 1. The Slovakian had played a key role in keeping United in the division, so surely a keeper wasn't a priority, even if

Pope cost a mere £12m? But any doubters were soon proven very wrong. Pope became a vital cog in a defence which was paramount in United qualifying for the Champions League the following May,

forming a formidable unit with Trippier, Burn, Botman and Fabian Schar as the clean sheets kept coming. Now, as we approach the 2025 summer window, the issue of a goalkeeper appears to have

returned to the top of the transfer agenda. United have been linked with several shot-stoppers such as Espanyol's Joan Garcia and Borussia Dortmund's Gregor Kobel, while they

remain long-term admirers of Burnley's England Under-21 star James Trafford. The question again presents itself . . . with a healthy but limited transfer budget, is a keeper really a

priority? This time, I would argue it's not. Yes, Pope is not a ball-playing goalkeeper. He is no Ederson, Alisson or Jordan Pickford with the ball at his feet. We've all shuffled

nervously in our seats as the controls a backpass and looks to clear, and it's something he must improve on. But when it comes to his job - keeping the ball out of the net - there are

still few better around. His saves in recent games against Chelsea, Arsenal and Everton illustrate that he can be relied upon to make top-drawer stops when needed. And that, after all, is

what he's there for. He had been a virtual spectator against Chelsea before getting down to stop Marc Cucurella's smart effort in the second half. How different the final table

would have looked without it. He made a fabulous instinctive save to deny Arsenal from a corner, and saved from Carlos Alcaraz twice before the Everton forward finally beat Pope on final day

of the season. Even that late block from Dominic Calvert-Lewin was something to behold. Could Newcastle improve on Pope? Yes, and it's a decision they will have to make in the near

future, with the ex-England keeper now 33. But surely the £20-30m minimum needed on finding a new No 1 would be better spent elsewhere this summer. United have quality throughout their side

but need more strength in depth, especially with the rigours of a Champions League campaign on the horizon. Invest in more midfield options, and back-up striker for Isak and finally bring

more right-wing options to the club. For me, a keeper can wait.