Newcastle United could now axe Loris Karius unless Martin Dubravka or Karl Darlow leave in a January transfer. He only joined the Toon in September but has not yet played a game.
That is according to the Daily Mail, which reports Eddie Howe is still undecided on who will be Nick Pope’s understudy. The Magpies coach is still weighing up who will be their backup option after recalling Dubravka from his loan with Manchester United on New Year’s Day.
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Manchester United had hired Dubravka for the season in September for £2m and gained a £6m option to buy the Slovakian. But the 33-year-old only played twice under Erik ten Hag as David de Gea’s understudy. Now, he will push Karius and Darlow to give cover for Pope.
Martin Dubravka’s return has put Loris Karius’ future with Newcastle in doubt
Dubravka left Newcastle having lost out to Pope as the No1 goalkeeper following his £12m transfer from Burnley in June. A decision which saw Howe move to sign Karius on a short-term contract as a free agent having left Liverpool. But his terms are set to end this month.
Newcastle have an option to extend Karius’ contract until the summer. But they could now let him go without making a single appearance, instead, unless one of Dubravka or Darlow leave. Karius has also only been an unused substitute during seven Premier League games.
Darlow replaced Karius on Howe’s bench for Newcastle’s last four Premier League games after returning from an ankle injury. So, with Dubravka also now back on Tyneside, Karius could find himself as the Magpies’ fourth-choice goalkeeper unless another were to leave.
Eddie Howe may yet prefer a transfer exit for one of his other goalkeepers
Pope will remain as Howe’s No1 irrespective of the situation unfolding behind him in their pecking order. While Karius’ future appears to be the most at risk as Howe elected against naming the 29-year-old even on the bench against AFC Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup.
Howe had suggested before the fourth-round tie that Karius was ‘in contention’ to get his Toon debut against the Cherries. Yet the German then failed to make the matchday ahead of Pope and Darlow. So, given his contract expires this month, he might be on the way out.
But selling Dubravka or Darlow in the January transfer window might appeal to Newcastle and offer Karius another shot. Neither is likely to force their way ahead of Pope to start for the Toon. While Karius – who Jurgen Klopp once called ‘fantastic’ – can be a good reserve.
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