Newcastle United have made contact over signing Borussia Dortmund star

Newcastle approached Dortmund's Kobel in summer but he rejected the move, preferring to stay despite uncertainty at St James Park.

Newcastle United made contact with Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel during the summer transfer window as they searched for a long-term replacement for Nick Pope. The Magpies offered Kobel a contract worth approximately €13m per year—€3m more than his current €10m annual salary at Dortmund—but the Swiss goalkeeper declined the approach.

Kobel cited concerns about Newcastle's sporting outlook and uncertain trajectory as his reason for rejecting the move.

Instead, Newcastle signed Lukas Hornicek from Braga for €30.6m at the end of August. However, the 24-year-old has struggled to settle, recording just two clean sheets in 10 Premier League games and conceding 16 goals as Newcastle sit 12th in the table.

Meanwhile, Dortmund are now focused on securing Kobel to a new contract, with his current deal running until 2028. The club's leadership has decided to initiate talks in the coming weeks, though negotiations could prove lengthy and complicated. Kobel is open to staying but will likely use Newcastle's summer approach and the wages offered as leverage in his discussions with Dortmund.