Eddie Howe admits he will be sad to see Manchester United sign Martin Dubravka on loan, after confirming Newcastle United have spoken with the Red Devils over a last-ditch move.
Eddie Howe admits ‘I’m sad’ Martin Dubravka could leave Newcastle for Man Utd
Manchester United and Newcastle United are in talks over a late window deal for the Red Devils to sign Martin Dubravka on loan. That’s according to Eddie Howe, who has admitted via quotes by Sky Sports that he will be disappointed to see the goalkeeper leave Tyneside.
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The Toon boss had not planned on allowing Dubravka to move away from St James’ Park in the summer sales. But Howe concedes he must consider the goalkeeper’s preference after falling behind Nick Pope in the Toon pecking order following his £12m arrival from Burnley.
Dubravka started all 26 of Newcastle’s Premier League fixtures with Howe at the helm last season following the Magpies sacking Steve Bruce. He also kept eight clean sheets to 35 goals conceded, but has only featured on the bench so far this term with Pope in the net.
Pope also took clean sheets against Nottingham Forest and Brighton & Hove Albion before drawing with Manchester City and Wolves. Dubravka, on the other hand, was not in the matchday Magpies squad at Molineux, with Karl Darlow taking up the understudy position.
Howe opted to leave Dubravka out against Wolves with Newcastle and Manchester United discussing his temporary transfer. Fabrizio Romano reports the Toon have agreed to a loan deal for the 2022/23 term, with the Red Devils gaining a £5m option to buy next summer.
Reports by The Guardian also add Dubravka has already agreed to personal terms with the Old Trafford outfit. Manchester United are now confident of signing the Toon’s £4m arrival from Sparta Prague in 2018 ahead of Thursday’s deadline for added cover to David de Gea.
Final paperwork still to be signed for Martin Dubravka to head to Old Trafford
Despite the reports, Howe notes the deal for Manchester United to sign Dubravka on loan from Newcastle is not yet complete. But the Toon boss hints he is unwilling to stand in the 33-year-old’s way of a move to Old Trafford, even if the Magpies had hoped to retain him.
“Discussions have taken place between the clubs,” Howe admitted. “I don’t think anything is concluded as I sit here now.
“From my perspective, I’m sad if Martin does leave, sad to see him go. It’s certainly not something we necessarily wanted as a football club, but we understand there are always two sides to every story.”
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