33-year-old who wanted to sign for Newcastle rejected Nottingham Forest move last month

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At the start of the January transfer window, it looked like Newcastle United would sign a goalkeeper, with David De Gea the leading candidate to arrive on Tyneside.

But now the January transfer window has been and gone, and Newcastle did not sign a goalkeeper. They are sticking with Martin Dubravka, who has improved massively in recent weeks.

One Premier League club who is changing their goalkeeper is Nottingham Forest. On transfer deadline day, they completed a deal to sign Matz Sels from Strasbourg. That is a name that Toon fans will recognise, with Sels making 14 appearances for the Magpies during the 2016/17 campaign under Rafa Benitez.

Now he is back in England, and he could actually play against Newcastle United at the City Ground next weekend.

But one man who won’t be there is David De Gea, despite being linked with both clubs.

Nottingham Forest tried to sign Newcastle-linked David De Gea

According to the Athletic, Nottingham Forest did offer De Gea a short-term deal during the January transfer window. However, he declined their approach and remains a free agent.

This comes after it was previously claimed that the 33-year-old goalkeeper was interested in a move to Newcastle United.

De Gea became linked with the Magpies immediately after Nick Pope suffered a shoulder injury. As a free agent, De Gea looked like the most viable option for Eddie Howe, should he decide to sign a replacement.

The Spaniard was keen on the move, but an offer was not forthcoming. And by the time De Gea did received an offer, it was from Nottingham Forest rather than Newcastle United.

It seems like a strange decision by De Gea, who has been without a club since the end of last season when Manchester United released him.

Understandably he will want to play for a club that is just as big, but realistically that is not going to happen. Forest would have been a good opportunity for him, particularly on a short-term deal.

He may have felt as though he could help Newcastle out, but Howe did not come calling. He is sticking with Dubravka, who continues to justify his manager’s faith. As for Forest, they will hope that Sels can thrive in the position that they had earmarked for De Gea.