Newcastle have a clause to sign goalkeeper Martin Dubravka permanently.
Rafa Benitez will already be tempted into triggering the reported £3.5million clause in Martin Dubravka’s Newcastle United loan deal after the goalkeeper starred against Manchester United on Sunday.
The 29-year-old produced an impeccable display between the sticks as Rafa Benitez’s side earned a huge 1-0 win over Jose Mourinho’s men at St. James’ Park, largely thanks to their debutant in goal.
The eight-time Slovakia international made a number of marvellous saves to deny the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial to earn a clean sheet on his debut with the Tyneside club.
On loan from Slavia Prague, Dubravka will remain with the Toon until the end of the season with Newcastle given the option to purchase the former MSK Zilina stopper on a permanent basis.
In a similar deal to the one that saw Mikel Merino sign permanently from Borussia Dortmund for £7million in October, Newcastle can trigger a deal to land Dubravka outright.
The Evening Chronicle reported on Monday that that figure stands at £3.5million, after Newcastle paid Sparta Prague £1.7million to take him on loan until the end of the campaign.
Karl Darlow’s inconsistency between the sticks has seen him fall behind Rob Elliot in the pecking order, but the latter’s proneness to injury saw Benitez decide to land Dubravka last month.
Freddie Woodman is expected to be a future hit with the Toon as he remains on loan with Aberdeen, while the future looks bleak for Anderlecht loanee Matz Sels.
Benitez must surely convince owner Mike Ashley, then, that at £3.5million Dubravka is an absolute bargain. Certainly, if he can continue his form in the Premier League after his showing against United, the Toon could land one of the transfers of the season.
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