Karl Darlow could have left Newcastle United for £5 million last summer.
Newcastle United’s goalkeeping issue is under the spotlight again following Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Swansea City at St James’s Park.
Karl Darlow could and should have done a lot better for Jordan Ayew’s opener on the hour mark, even if Newcastle’s non-existent defence opened up the chance for the Swansea man.
It wasn’t the first mistake that the 27-year-old has made this season and it most probably won’t be the last.
Magpies boss Rafael Benitez turned down a £5 million offer from Middlesbrough for Darlow last July according to Sky Sports, and you wonder if that was now a mistake.
When you consider that Benitez shelled out £12 million for the unimpressive Jacob Murphy 12 days later, the Spanish manager could have had something in the region of £17 million in which to find a good goalkeeper and a better winger than Murphy – more than enough.
Of course, it’s easy to criticise the decision in hindsight, but Benitez was actively trying to sign a goalkeeper for the entire summer, so he must have suspected that Darlow and Rob Elliot weren’t up to the task, but if he could turn back the clock you wonder whether he’d rip Boro’s hands off for that £5 million because they’re unlikely to get that offer now.
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