Newcastle United are ‘probably’ going to sign Lazio goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha in 2022, according to speculation in Italy.
The January transfer window is a matter of weeks away, and after his side conceded three goals in his first game in charge, Eddie Howe is going to have to prioritise resolving the league’s joint leakiest backline.
Although Newcastle have the likes of Karl Darlow, Martin Dubravka, Freddie Woodman and Mark Gillespie within their first team, Howe may seek further competition.
That theory is supported by Italian newspaper Il Messaggero, who claim that Lazio goalkeeper Strakosha is ‘probably’ signing for Newcastle in 2022.
The newspaper reports that Lazio manager Maurizio Sarri, the former Chelsea and Juventus boss, will likely wait until June to sign a new goalkeeper – because that’s when Strakosha is likely to join Newcastle.
Despite playing over 180 times for Lazio, Strakosha currently finds himself as second choice to Pepe Reina in Serie A.
His four Lazio appearances this season have all come in the Europa League.
With a lack of playing time, Strakosha’s contract situation is unlikely to change which gives Newcastle the opportunity to try and secure a cut-price deal for the Albanian in January.
As things stand, it seems pointless holding out for Strakosha in the summer, if he’s available in January then the club should pursue signing him then.
Following Darlow’s ‘nervy’ performance against Brentford, which drew criticism from club legend Alan Shearer, Howe may see Strakosha as the man to bring an element of order and calm to a defence that has conceded 27 goals in 12 Premier League games.
After Woodman started the season in goal and then Darlow came in, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Dubravka replace the Welshman in the coming weeks, but Howe needs to settle on a number one and he may do that next year in Strakosha.
Strakosha, who has previously been branded ‘extraordinary’ for his athleticism by ex-Lazio coach Alberto Bollini, was born in Greece but plays for Albania and has 18 caps to his name, which included the 5-0 defeat to England earlier this month.
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