Newcastle United have been linked with two La Liga goalkeepers – Sociedad’s Rulli and Real Madrid’s Kiko Casilla.
Despite the Mirror claiming that Newcastle United can make Martin Dubravka’s loan move from Sparta Prague permanent for just £5.2 million, it seems that Rafa Benitez still wants another shot-stopper in the summer.
L’Equipe linked Newcastle with the 19-year-old Toulouse prodigy Alban Lafont this week while the Sun claims that Geronimo Rulli – the Real Sociedad ‘keeper who was of interest to the St James’ Park club last summer – is still on the radar.
It is understood that Benitez has sent scouts to watch the £15 million-rated Argentine, but Rulli is not the only La Liga custodian who the Magpies have been linked with.
Rulli or reunion?
As reported by the Mail in December, Benitez was looking at a reunion with Kiko Casilla, the Spanish international ‘keeper who he signed from Espanyol during his short-lived reign in charge of Real Madrid in 2015/16.
It is hardly a secret that Madrid are looking to upgrade their goalkeeping options this summer, meaning the seldom-seen Casilla will almost certainly be on the way out.
But if Benitez is to sign one glovesman from Spain’s top flight, his primary option should be pretty obvious. Yes, he knows Casilla well, and the 31-year-old was only recently seen as good enough to join arguably Europe’s biggest club, but Rulli looks like the better option on paper.
While Casilla has barely played a league game in two-and-a-half years, Rulli has been an impressive almost ever-present for Sociedad. His reflexes are remarkable and, at 25, he will only get better.
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