Newcastle United have had an approach for Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Keylor Navas turned down, according to RMC Sport.
A combination of the January transfer window opening and the Magpies’ new-found riches has meant that practically every household name in European football has been linked with a move to St James’ Park.
But a move for the Costa Rica international goalkeeper is by far one of the strangest.
The French giants intend to finish the season with both Navas and Gianluigi Donnarumma, who share the goalkeeping position.
Navas, who has been at the Parisians since 2019, has played 17 games since the start of the season.
The Italian, who played a starring role in helping his nation clinch European Championship glory at England’s expense, has 12 appearances to his name.
Between the pair, the six Champions League group matches were split at three starts apiece.
Why would Keylor Navas join Newcastle United right now?
Navas, a three-time Champions League winner, is accustomed to winning trophies and with Mauricio Pochettino’s side hoping to finally lift the elusive Champions League trophy that the city so badly craves for the first time, why would the former Real Madrid man switch Paris for Newcastle?
Eddie Howe’s Toon Army are engulfed in a relegation battle which has all the makings of going down to the very wire.
With two weeks left in the January transfer window, the club’s Saudi-led consortium have got to focus their efforts on realistic targets.
There is no denying Keylor Navas would be a massive upgrade on Martin Dubravka, but it isn’t even an option right now.
Even if Navas were to join Newcastle right now which would probably be financially motivated, he would be the busiest he has even been throughout his career, and be asked to perform miracles.
Instead, we need centre-backs and quickly, and Saudi Arabia’s PIF will know this well.
However, if we do beat the drop and Navas finds himself playing second fiddle to Donnarumma come the knockout stages of the Champions League, then the Costa Rican might be willing to join the ambitious Newcastle project.
But right now signing the likes of Navas is nothing more than a pipedream.
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