Newcastle United appear on the brink of signing German goalkeeper Loris Karius as injury cover for Karl Darlow.
The Magpies’ current number two is out until 2023 leaving Eddie Howe short of back-ups to number one Nick Pope.
Karius is a free agent following the expiration of his Liverpool contract in the summer. However, his reputation for errors is hardly leaving Newcastle United fans overjoyed with the move.
However, Karius actually enjoyed one of his finest moments in English football against Newcastle back in March 2018.
Karius made a fine save to deny Newcastle United in 2018
With Liverpool 1-0 up at Anfield following Mohamed Salah’s 40th-minute opener Newcastle came painfully close to an equaliser just shy of half-time, Mo Diame’s curling left-footed effort seeming destined for the top corner. But Karius sprung into life and tipped the Senegalese midfielder’s effort around the post.
Liverpool went on to win 2-0 and Karius was praised as a hero after the game by his manager.
“It is exactly the life of a top-class goalkeeper,” Klopp told the official Liverpool website after the game.
“If you are at a top team, you have not a lot to do but when you have something to do you need to be there. He was there, so it’s a good thing…
“It was fantastic – it was like scoring, to be honest.”
Karius’s demise at Liverpool
Just three months later, two glaring errors from Karius cost Liverpool the 2018 Champions League final against Real Madrid.
After that, Liverpool signed Alisson, Karius was relegated to back-up and eventually spent time on loan with Besiktas and Union Berlin before his time at Anfield officially came to an end recently.
Newcastle United fans are more likely to remember that woeful showing v Real Madrid over his flying save against Diame.
However, it does highlight the one aspect of Karius’ game that is hard to suggest is not present, his shot-stopping ability.
As a back-up keeper, that might be all that Newcastle United need from the German. Step up in the absence of Pope at any given moment and make the odd important save.
If the 29-year-old can do that, he will surely be an able addition on Tyneside.
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