Rafael Benitez signed current RB Leipzig ‘keeper Peter Gulasci at Liverpool and is reportedly hoping to land him again at Newcastle United.
With just three weeks to go before the start of a new Premier League season, it’s still uncertain who will be between the sticks for Newcastle United when they kick off the campaign against Tottenham Hotspur.
Reported moves for Willy Caballero and Pepe Reina hit the buffers, the exit-linked Tim Krul remains on Tyneside while even Karl Darlow, who has been linked with countless Championship clubs, may end up sticking around after all.
Darlow starred as Newcastle won the Championship last season
However, it now appears that there is a new name in the frame to be Newcastle’s next number one. ESPN claims that Newcastle are lining up RB Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulasci – a name that may be familiar to eagle eyed Premier League anoraks.
After all, the Hungarian shot-stopper spent five years at Liverpool between 2008 and 2013, brought to Merseyside from MTK Budapest by none other than Rafael Benitez.
However, it’s fair to say the then-teenager didn’t quite make the impression Liverpool had hoped, failing to make a single senior appearance and instead being forced out on loan to Hereford Town, Tranmere Rovers and Hull City.
Rafa reunion
Fast forward to the present day, however, and Gulasci is a goalkeeper at the top of his game. Since joining RB Leipzig in 2015 from sister club Salzburg, the 27-year-old has helped ‘Germany’s most hated club’ win promotion to the Bundesliga before sensationally finishing runners-up to Bayern Munich, securing Champions League football as a result.
Gulasci missed just one Bundesliga game last season
Clearly, Gulasci has come a long way since his difficult spell at Anfield. And, a decade after signing him at Liverpool, Benitez has picked the perfect time to plot a reunion.
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