Newcastle have announced that goalkeeper Martin Dubravka has signed a new deal at St James’ park which will tie him to the club for six more years.
It is fantastic news for everyone, but some Newcastle fans have taken a more cynical view, as they continue to mistrust anything Newcastle do under Mike Ashley’s ownership.
(Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
If the Slovak international sees out the whole contract, it will see him stay on Tyneside beyond his 36th birthday, and handing such a long deal to a player the wrong side of 30 is virtually unheard of at Newcastle in recent times.
But some Toon fans do not see him staying anywhere near that length of time, with a lot of social media comments claiming the deal is nothing more than a stunt to extract the highest fee possible for him, should any of the European sides be interested in him.
(Photo by Leila Coker/ MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
One fan even suggested the deal may have been agreed to simply insert a buy-out clause, should Steve Bruce take Newcastle down to the Championship.
Dubravka’s contract announcement will hopefully see others follow
But securing the signature of one of our top stars is good news, and will hopefully be followed by other key players, such as Fabian Schar, Sean Longstaff and Matty Longstaff, as well as a permanent deal for current loanee Jetro Willems.
(Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Let’s hope the cynics among us are wrong this time, while we revel in the deal that could start a domino effect of new contract agreements over the coming weeks.
Here are a few of the less than hopeful responses to the news from Twitter:
*keeping him at the club until January when the big european clubs have to pay more to get him out of his contract
— Hepple (@reecehep12) October 24, 2019
More money to buy him more like
He’ll not play in championship— Tony Walters (@Carmonte) October 24, 2019
That’s him off in January then
— Callum Vass (@CallumVass) October 24, 2019
And secured a good fee for him in January sales
— Glen (@Glen78Turnbull) October 24, 2019
Buy out Clause inserted… thank you very much
— Andrew Chambers (@AndrewChambers2) October 24, 2019
Yeah Keith good business to get the biggest fee possible from these big European clubs that are apparently circling #ashleyout
— Clark Spence (@ClarkSpence5) October 24, 2019
All it Means if any club want him they have to pay a bigger fee for him
— Anderson (@k1ando2) October 24, 2019
Relegation Clause more money for Mike, Fans arent stupid Keith
— Fisco & Shaka (@FiscoandShaka) October 24, 2019
So what you’re saying is he’ll be away in the summer for a large sum of money…… got it
— Kev Wood #NUFC ⚫️⚪️⚫️⚪️ (@Kevwoodh24) October 24, 2019
That will be him sold then
— hutchy (@Hutchylegend) October 24, 2019
Who gets ON a sinking ship……???
— ande walsh (@nexusreject) October 24, 2019