Newcastle United completed the signing of Loris Karius earlier this month, but it was very nearly Ben Foster arriving.
With Karl Darlow picking up an injury, the Magpies decided to bring in an additional goalkeeper despite the transfer window being closed.
It meant Dan Ashworth could only deal with free agents, meaning there was a limited pool to choose from.
On September 8th, news came out of nowhere that former Liverpool stopper Karius was going to sign a short-term deal at St James’ Park.
The move was then delayed following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, but the 29-year-old is now officially a Newcastle player.
He was on the bench for the 1-1 draw with Bournemouth, but it could have been Foster instead had things gone differently.
Richard Lee on Newcastle not signing Ben Foster
Foster was also a free agent, having left Watford at the end of last season after relegation. Newcastle turned to him in their time of need, but were met with disappointment despite agreeing a deal with Foster and his representative Richard Lee.
Lee is a former goalkeeper turned agent, and a friend of Foster. And he represented the 39-year-old during negotiations with Newcastle.
The agent has since spoke to the Athletic, and provided details on how talks with Dan Ashworth went. Lee stated that Newcastle agreed to offer Foster what he wanted to move to St James’ Park, but then the ex-Watford stopper changed his mind.
“That was when I got the call (from Foster) to say, ‘Rich, I’m not sure’,” he said.
“We had a few more calls and shared a few messages in which it sounded like he was coming round to it, but then I got the final call and I knew at that point it was a no.
“He’d asked for that figure almost not wanting them to get there, and the moment they accepted it that provided clarity in his mind that he was done.
“Naturally there’s disappointment because he would have been perfect for the role.”
Foster would have been a good addition
Foster was offered the money he wanted on a one-year deal, but said no. Instead, the eight-time England international decided to retire.
That meant Newcastle needed to turn elsewhere, bringing in Karius after his Liverpool release. The German is a decent addition, even if his reputation is soured from his time at Anfield. But realistically, he’s only an emergency option for Newcastle.
That’s all Foster would have been as well, but he probably would have filled fans with more confidence if called upon. He’s been one of the Premier League’s most reliable goalkeepers over the past decade or so, which is why Newcastle tried to bring him in.
But instead he decided to hang up his gloves completely, denying the Magpies what Lee thinks would have been a ‘perfect’ signing.