Bayern Munich are reportedly targeting Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope as part of a six-man shortlist drawn up to eventually replace legendary shot-stopper Manuel Neuer, according to a report from Spanish outlet Fichajes.

Neuer, now 40, retired from international football after Germany suffered a humiliating exit at the hands of Paraguay at the World Cup this summer. Questions about how much longer the Gelsenkirchen-born goalkeeper can sustain his club career have grown louder ever since.

Pope's path to the Allianz Arena

Pope's situation at Newcastle has become increasingly marginal. After contesting the No.1 jersey with Aaron Ramsdale last season, the England international has not featured for a single minute under new manager Matthias Jassle this term. The arrival of Lukas Hornicek — who was even handed the start in Newcastle's League Cup win against Millwall last month — has pushed Pope firmly to the periphery.

Beyond Bayern, Celtic, Leeds United, and Hull City are also said to be monitoring Pope's availability. Transfermarkt currently values the goalkeeper at €3 million, reflecting his limited playing time.

Bayern's broader goalkeeper shortlist

Pope's name sits alongside five others on Bayern's radar. Sporting's Rui Silva, Monaco's Lukas Hradecky, Union Berlin's Frederik Ronnow, Paris FC's Kevin Trapp, and Atletico Madrid's Juan Musso all feature in the Bavarians' deliberations as they seek a composed, experienced operator to inherit Neuer's gloves.

Fichajes reports that Bayern's board are prioritising a specialist with international experience to avoid tactical disruption while Jonas Urbig continues his development — the 23-year-old having made 23 league appearances for the club since arriving from Koln last year.

A succession plan Bayern have struggled to get right

Bayern's attempts to plan beyond Neuer have historically misfired. Alexander Nubel arrived from Schalke in 2020 with considerable fanfare, only for Neuer to publicly dismiss the signing as