Newcastle United goalkeeper Karl Darlow says that he could have joined Middlesbrough in the summer transfer window.
Darlow joined Newcastle from Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2014 and was sent back to the Reds on loan for the 2014-15 campaign.
The 27-year-old goalkeeper has not been able to secure himself as a spot in the Magpies’ starting lineup on a consistent basis and has had to fight for his place.
The Englishman, though, made as many as 34 appearances in the Championship last season, as Newcastle won automatic promotion to the Premier League.
Darlow, who has been able to featured in just two Premier League matches for Newcastle so far this season, has revealed that he was close to joining North-East rivals Middlesbrough in the summer transfer window.
According to The Shields Gazette, Boro, who got relegated from the Premier League to the Championship at the end of last season, made a bid of £5 million for the goalkeeper.
Chelsea attacker midfielder Eden Hazard recently described Darlow as a “great goalkeeper”, as quoted by The Chronicle.
Darlow told The Shields Gazette: “I was incredibly close to leaving. At the time I saw it as business when the manager told me. That’s the way to deal with it. That’s how it was explained to me.
“I was pretty close to leaving, yes (to Middlesbrough). I hadn’t got as far as my farewells to my team-mates.
“I had met and spoken to their manager (Garry Monk), and it was all ready to go. Newcastle were waiting on signing another goalkeeper, and it fell through for another reason.”
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