Newcastle United look set to miss out on signing Lazio goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha, who is now believing to be heading to Lazio.
That’s according to Rome-based newspaper Il Messaggero, who claim that Strakosha is now edging towards joining Watford.
Such a move may be seen as a huge gamble given that Watford currently look likely to suffer relegation to the Championship.
Strakosha is out of contract at the end of the season and is able to sign a pre-contract agreement to leave Lazio for free.
It now looks like Watford are closing in on that deal, landing a major coup given their precarious situation in the relegation battle.
Watford wanted Strakosha in January, even plotting something of a swap involving Udinese’s Jens Stryger Larsen, but that didn’t happen.
This move to Watford means Strakosha is now unlikely to join Newcastle despite strong rumours linking him with a move to Tyneside.
The Sun reported in November that Newcastle were scouting Strakosha with a view to offering a pre-contract agreement.
Newcastle were allegedly open to a cash deal too, but the January window ended without Strakosha heading to St James’ Park.
The 26-year-old has been in and out of the Lazio side this season, starting just nine Serie A games with Pepe Reina often featuring.
Former Lazio coach Alberto Bollini branded Strakosha ‘extraordinary’ but he now needs regular games to kick on again.
You can hardly blame Strakosha for wanting to leave then, and he seems set for a move to England.
Newcastle may still look for a new goalkeeper this summer, with the likes of Dean Henderson and Bernd Leno regularly linked.
Karl Darlow isn’t the long-term answer and Freddie Woodman’s future may life away from Newcastle, so even if it isn’t Strakosha, expect the Magpies to go for another stopper this summer.
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