The Magpies agreed a £27m fee with Burnley for Trafford last week, only for Manchester City to trigger a buyback clause that resulted in the shot-stopper returning to the Etihad Stadium instead.
With doubts over the future of both Martin Dubravka and Odysseas Vlachodimos, Newcastle remained keen to strengthen their goalkeeping ranks this summer and have now turned to Ramsdale as an alternative option.
The Magpies are currently involved in discussions with Southampton over the 27-year-old and are understood to be pushing for an initial loan deal, with an option for a permanent transfer next summer.
With Southampton having been relegated last season, Ramsdale has indicated he would be extremely keen to move to Tyneside, where he would compete with Nick Pope for the starting spot in the Newcastle team.
Ramsdale began his career in the youth ranks at Sheffield United before spending three years at Bournemouth, where he played under current Magpies head coach Eddie Howe.
A brief return to Sheffield United preceded a move to Arsenal, where he made 89 senior appearances over a four-year spell at the Emirates.
Ramsdale was Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper in both the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, but lost his place to David Raya and joined Southampton in a £25m move last summer.
A senior England international with five caps, he was the Saints’ first-choice goalkeeper as they were relegated from the top-flight last season.
Talks are understood to be progressing well, with an agreement reportedly imminent. Ramsdale will have to complete a medical and finalise personal terms before a transfer is complete, but provided things go smoothly, he could sign in time to fly out to South Korea for the second half of Newcastle’s ongoing Asian tour.
Having lost to Arsenal in Singapore yesterday, the Magpies will face a K-League All Stars XI in South Korea on Wednesday before taking on Tottenham on Sunday.
