Tim Krul looks certain to leave Newcastle United within the next few weeks with Benfica increasingly keen.
Newcastle United are determined to find a buyer for Tim Krul before the transfer window slams shut at the end of this month with The Chronicle reporting that Rafael Benitez will not be able to sign a new goalkeeper unless he gets the Dutchman off the club’s books.
And it appears that the feeling is mutual. Because A Bola reports that Krul is very interested in the possibility of swapping his Newcastle purgatory for a first shot in the Champions League with Portuguese giants Benfica.
The report claims that Benfica are looking to replace Ederson Moraes, who became the most expensive goalkeeper in history when he joined Manchester City at the start of the summer window.
Jeroen Zoet, who has won two Eredivisie titles with PSV, is the first name on their wishlist, according to A Bola, but his £13.5 million price-tag means he could be out of Benfica’s price range.
As such, the report adds that they have turned their attention to Zoet’s fellow Dutch international Krul, who Newcastle are willing to let go for as little as £5 million.
The furthest Krul progressed in continental competition during his 11 years on Newcastle’s books was reaching the quarter finals of the Europa League in 2013, ironically knocked out by Benfica after a 3-1 defeat in Lisbon.
And, despite suffering a cruciate ligament injury two years ago which appears to have ended his Newcastle career, there is still plenty of life in 29-year-old Krul, now fully fit after a loan spell at AZ Alkmaar last season.
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