It seems like Newcastle United are finding it increasingly difficult to retain their star players despite gaining promotion to the top-flight last season. After winger Yoan Gouffran and Vurnon Anita decided against renewing their contract and left the club, it is now their star goalkeeper Karl Darlow who is following the same path.
Magpies boss is willing to bring in an experienced goalie to start between the sticks at St. James’ Park next season, with reports claiming that both Tim Krul and Darlow are on their way out. While Krul has failed to impress the Spanish boss, Darlow doesn’t want to play the second fiddle next season.
Despite being Championship’s best goalie last season by a good margin, conceding 32 goals in 34 appearances (league), the manager believes that top-flight football would be too big a challenge for him. Given his prior experience with Liverpool and Chelsea, Benitez knows what kind of quality could cope with the pressure.
He has already inquired about a move for Napoli’s Pepe Reina and failed to make any improvement. And with reports claiming that Middlesbrough, who are hoping to start next season with a renewed spirit under boss Garry Monk, has shown a keen interest in Darlow now Benitez could see himself in huge crisis soon.
Hence, Benitez’s pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain goalie Alphonse Areola makes a lot of sense. The young French goalie remains one of the priority targets for many clubs following his underwhelming season in Ligue 1 last season. Albeit losing his place to Kevin Trapp as the season progressed, the player has shown a solid display under the bar, conceding just 21 goals in 22 appearances in all competition.
At just 24, what he exactly needs is first team appearances and Newcastle can give him that. While one could argue why Darlow would miss out on that, but Areola’s qualities edge Newcastle’s current number one by a good distance. He had started as the first choice under Unai Emery last season and was a regular for the French side in their Champions League group stages.
He conceded only seven goals in them before Emery decided to try Trapp in that famous tie against Barcelona. Areola has proved himself at the top level too, as he was a regular for Villarreal in the Europa League last season too.
The youth product of PSG, he has seen some temporary moves to Ligue 1 sides Lens like SC Bastia, and La Liga side Villarreal before the Ligue 1 giants gave him a break last season. And he didn’t disappoint at all, conceding just 22 goals in 29 appearances and 14 shutouts.
Newcastle United are reportedly willing to splurge something in the region of £13.3m.
