Although Eddie Howe isn’t short of goalkeepers with Martin Dubravka, Karl Darlow and Mark Gillespie at his disposal, it appears he’s on the hunt for an upgrade this summer. Samuel Luckhurst of Manchester Evening News says Newcastle United are closing in on a season-long loan move for Dean Henderson, but the 25-year-old’s arrival could be bad news for Darlow.
The 31-year-old has made eight Premier League appearances this season, conceding 15 goals and failing to keep a clean sheet. Darlow was given playing time when Dubravka was injured between September and November but was dropped when the Slovakian goalkeeper returned, so he isn’t likely to start many games next season.
Darlow joined the Magpies from Nottingham Forest in 2014 and has gone on to make 99 appearances in all competitions, conceding 135 goals with 25 clean sheets. The uncapped Englishman has been first-choice at Newcastle in previous seasons, making 34 Championship appearances in 2016/17 and 25 Premier League appearances in 2020/21, but Henderson could be his successor.
The England international has made 29 appearances in all competitions since rising through the youth ranks to Manchester United’s first-team, conceding 25 goals and keeping 13 clean sheets. His inability to nail down a regular starting place at Old Trafford has led to loan moves at Stockport County, Grimsby Town, Shrewsbury Town and Sheffield United.
Newcastle may be the next one.
In other news, Alan Hutton tips Newcastle to sign Kalvin Phillips
