The former Nottingham Forest goalkeeper is reportedly surplus to requirements at Newcastle following news that Rafael Benitez wants Pepe Reina.
Newcastle United’s Karl Darlow
Following news that Newcastle United boss Rafael Benitez wants to sign Pepe Reina, he can handle this a lot better and will be making a big mistake if he decides to boot Karl Darlow out the door at St James’ Park.
According to the Northern Echo, Benitez wants a complete goalkeeping overhaul at Newcastle, and is prepared to say goodbye to Matz Sels, Tim Krul and Darlow to make way for Reina, and presumably another back-up goalkeeper.
Newcastle United’s Karl Darlow celebrates
While it’s more than fair enough that Benitez wants to bring in someone of Reina’s calibre – let alone the fact he worked with him at Liverpool and Napoli – to completely boot out the goalkeepers at the club seems reckless and overly harsh, let alone a waste of the talent he’s dispensing with.
It makes sense to axe Krul and Sels – most Newcastle fans said their goodbyes to Krul last summer when he went on loan to firstly to Ajax, then to AZ Alkmaar, while Sels just hasn’t delivered – but absolutely none whatsoever want to force Darlow out of the club.
Newcastle’s Karl Darlow
Darlow has been one of the most underrated players in the Championship this season, and has put on several excellent displays for the club – and at just 26, still has many years to go when it comes to his goalkeeping career.
To not keep him around as a back-up to Reina is a poor oversight by Benitez, and one that could cost him dearly long term – as Darlow will be a Premier League goalkeeper again, be it with Newcastle or somewhere else.
Aston Villa’s Scott Sinclair has a shot saved by Newcastle’s Karl Darlow
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