Martin Dubravka is suddenly in a difficult situation at Newcastle United.
The 35-year-old is the Magpies’ number one at the moment, with Nick Pope injured with a knee problem.
Since Martin Dubravka returned to the starting XI, Newcastle United have won five games in a row and kept four consecutive Premier League clean sheets. He has not had to work too hard for them either, with Dubravka rarely tested since replacing Pope in between the sticks.
But the Slovakian has played well, with his passing out from the back an improvement on Pope’s ability with the ball at his feet.
Martin Dubravka linked with Newcastle exit in January
However, Dubravka’s return to the starting XI comes at a time when his Toon future is very much up in the air.
His contract is due to expire in the summer, with a new deal not expected for a player who turns 36-years-old later this month.
Dubravka has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, with claims that a deal is actually close.
Whether or not that is the case remains to be seen, but the fact that Dubravka is currently Newcastle’s number one creates a difficult situation at a time when the Magpies need to move fringe players on.
What is being said about Dubravka’s Newcastle future
With that in mind, the Athletic’s Chris Waugh has said on the latest episode of Pod On The Tyne that some people within the club would like to move Dubravka on towards the end of January if Pope has returned to fitness by then.
“Dubravka is heading into the final six months of his contract,” he said.
“He’s in his mid-30s now. He’s almost certainly not going to get another contract. But he is currently Newcastle’s number one because Nick Pope is injured. I asked Howe about this a couple of weeks ago and he basically said why would we let our goalkeeper who is playing every week go at the moment.
“Whereas I think there are some people at Newcastle who are minded towards the backend of January to, if Nick Pope is fit, let him go. It’s not going to be massive in terms of PSR, but it gets his wages off the books. He’s someone who is going to be leaving anyway.”
Waugh added: “Eddie Howe would actually like another goalkeeper signed, because he is not fully confident in the understudies he has to Nick Pope. He has never been fully confident about Dubravka as a shot-stopper.”
Newcastle should let Dubravka go in January
If there is an opportunity to move Dubravka on during the January transfer window, Newcastle United should take it.
The Magpies have major problems with PSR, and getting Dubravka’s wages off the books would play a part towards improving the financial situation.
Sure, it would be a risk, especially if Pope is not fit by the backend of January. But Newcastle do have other goalkeepers within their ranks, most notably the Greece number one Odysseas Vlachodimos.
It is understandable why Howe would want to keep Dubravka until the end of the season, but Paul Mitchell must make sure the bigger picture prevails.
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