Newcastle United have had to dip into the free agent market as a replacement for the injured Karl Darlow. The 31-year-old backup keeper is reportedly out for up to 10 weeks due to what Eddie Howe refers to as a ‘strange ankle injury’.
The initial shock of being linked with Loris Karius shocked many in the footballing quarters, most notably Newcastle United fans. After all, little had been seen of Karius since his disastrous performance in the 2018 Champions League final. A game in which not one, but two errors handed Real Madrid a 3-1 victory over Liverpool.
A loan spell in Turkey with Besiktas turned sour after it was reported that the former Manchester City youth player wasn’t being paid but the club. After seeking legal action against the club, he cancelled his two-year loan deal just before the climax of the contract. The German goalkeeper then returned to the Bundesliga the following year, primarily playing second fiddle to Andreas Luthe at Union Berlin.
Following his release from Liverpool at the end of his contract in 2022, Karius found himself clubless going into the new season. That was until Newcastle offered him a chance to stay in English football for at least another season.
The former Reds number 1’s ability as a goalkeeper has only been questioned when regarding one – albeit very important – game. The issue seems to be more of a mental one. His managers at both Union Berlin and Besiktas both found the 29-year-old to be too mentally weak. Fairly or unfairly. Hopefully this has been an element of his game that Karius has spent the summer improving. For Newcastle United’s sake and more importantly his own.
Who Else Did Newcastle United Want?
Recent revelations have come to the fore from another goalkeeper. Ben Foster, formerly of Watford, Manchester United and England, revealed that he too was offered a contract by the Saudi-backed Newcastle United. But choosing to retire rather than move up North for a contract he admits is well beyond what he deserves.
👀| Ben Foster confirmed on a sneak peak for an announcement today at 4pm that #NUFC did offer him a contract. pic.twitter.com/OjMLbtnHQG
— NUFC360 (@NUFC360) September 15, 2022
The announcement brought up a few questions, mainly as to why he felt the need to make it known that the club wanted him. But also the need in which he felt he had to potentially make an already fragile player in Karius, question his position. Foster essentially told the new Newcastle number 18 that he was second choice to the 39-year-old.
This surely leaves Karius in a fragile mental position. Does he further question whether he was Eddie Howes’ second, third or even fourth-choice reserve? Or is he finally strong enough to not be concerned by unnecessary noise from other camps.
The hope will be, of course, on the latter, but the query remains as to why an experienced, likeable former professional such as Ben Foster felt the need for this information to be made public and perhaps sabotage the already difficult career of a younger man.
