Augsburg goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz admits he received offers from Premier League duo Newcastle and Manchester United during the summer transfer window, speaking to Canal Plus.
Ben Foster is not the only veteran shot-stopper who held talks with the Magpies before the window closed in early September. Gikiewicz, despite turning 35 a couple of weeks ago, is ageing like a fine wine, with his excellent displays in the Bundesliga catching the eye of two ambitious and well-heeled Premier League sides.
Including a Newcastle side who, funnily enough, would end up loaning Martin Dubravka to another club who came calling for Gikiewicz; the Slovakian swapping St James’ Park for Old Trafford on deadline day.
“Not only was I connected,” Gikiewicz explains. “But I also signed various powers of attorney with either Manchester United or Newcastle United. In the goalkeeper market, everything works like dominoes. As Martin Dubravka leaves, (you can replace him) and so on.
“They called me from England and asked if I wanted to take a risk. They added that something could happen in the last hours of the window, whether I wanted to take a risk.
“At the age of 34 or 35, interesting clubs apply. It just shows me that I am doing a good job in the Bundesliga. When I want to change something, I will not complain about the lack of interest.”
Newcastle and Manchester United wanted Rafal Gikiewicz
Gikiewicz most certainly is ‘doing a good job’. All four of Augsburg’s wins so far have come with the former Union Berlin and Freiburg man between the sticks; Gikiewicz producing a virtuoso performance in September’s shock 1-0 triumph over Bavarian rivals Bayern Munich.
It is no coincidence that, since he was ruled out through injury, Augsburg have failed to win a single game. What’s more, they have conceded nine goals in four matches without Gikiewicz.
“I’m very pleased with how my team played,” Augsburg coach Enrico Maasen (just three years Gikiewicz’s senior) said following that dramatic Bayern win. “We gave away a lot of chances, but Gikiewicz was tremendous.”
Newcastle eventually signed ex-Liverpool ‘keeper Loris Karius on a short-term deal until January. The Magpies, meanwhile, are now eyeing up Porto stopper Diogo Costa.
He signed a new deal on Thursday, however, complete with a £65 million release clause. That would make Costa the most expensive signing in Newcastle’s history.
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