Udinese goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis looks increasingly likely to join Watford rather than Newcastle United.
Newcastle United’s search for a new goalkeeper is set to go right down to the wire. And, after deals for the likes of Pepe Reina and Willy Caballero came to nothing, Rafael Benitez may be set for more frustration.
Because Tuttomercatoweb reports that Premier League rivals Watford are expected to sign Udinese’s Greek international shot-stopper Orestis Karnezis on deadline day. The fact that both clubs are owned by the Pozzo family and regularly exchange players certainly works in their favour.
This is despite the same publication claiming on Monday that Newcastle had made a bid for Karnezis.
Unlike many of Newcastle’s goalkeeping targets, the 32-year-old is not exactly a household name in the North East but is very well thought of in Italy and has even been tipped to replace Reina at Napoli with the Spaniard’s future uncertain.
However, with highly-rated duo Alex Meret and Simone Scuffet on the books, losing Karnezis would not be the end of the world for Udinese this summer. Though it appears that Watford are closing in on a deal for a ‘keeper who joined Udine from Granada, another of the Pozzo’s clubs, in 2014.
It is expected that he would provide some much needed cover for Heurelho Gomes.
Yet, Karnezis moving to Vicarage Road would not be of much help to Newcastle, who were hoping to have a new number one in place before the start of the season.
Rob Elliot has started between the sticks in each of the club’s three Premier League fixtures while Tim Krul and Karl Darlow, who were both told they could leave earlier in the summer, remain at the club.
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