Football Transfer Rumour: Ex-Manchester United Goalie David De Gea Linked With Premier League Return

England international Pope will spend a considerable time on the sidelines after suffering a shoulder injury in Newcastle United's narrow win over Manchester United. Pope landed awkwardly on his shoulder and was replaced promptly by former Man Utd loanee Martin Dubravka for what remained of the match. Speaking to the media afterwards, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe feared the worst, which was later confirmed by a report claiming that Pope would be out of action for four months.?

"I don't know if he will need an operation or not, but we will get it checked out and fingers crossed he will be back soon," Howe told TNT Sport.?"It will be a massive blow for us if he is ruled out for any length of time. It looked really innocuous, but that is usually the way and they are normally the more serious ones. You could see he was in distress and it looked like he dislocated his shoulder just diving."

As per the report, De Gea will have to take a steep pay cut to join Newcastle United, should the club move for him in the coming days. The Spaniard was one of Premier Leaue's highest-paid players at Manchester United, earning a reported weekly wage of 375,000 pounds. He, however, found himself surplus to requirements last summer following the arrival of Cameroon international Andre Onana, with the club choosing not to renew his contract.?