'We want you to stay': Fans make feelings clear as Newcastle United player faces possible January exit

 · January 13 2025, 11:00
'We want you to stay': Fans make feelings clear as Newcastle United player faces possible January exit
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We're not strangers to twisting, turning transfer stories as Newcastle United fans, but they're usually focused more on players we are trying to sign.

This January, however, we're in the middle of a story that has seen more U-turns than a Government COVID plan, and we're not done yet.

Heading into January it seemed almost inevitable that Martin Dubravka would be sold in the winter transfer window as the Slovakian has had to make do with playing second-fiddle to Nick Pope since his arrival, and now that he's turning 36 in a couple of days, he'll be wanting to play somewhere where he's going to get regular football as a number one choice while he still can.

However, Nick Pope picked up another injury and isn't expected to be back for at least another week, and Eddie Howe can't risk losing a reliable back-up when his number one isn't fully fit.

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Nick Pope may find himself dropped to number two after Martin Dubravka's solid month

Newcastle United fans serenaded Martin Dubravka after the win over Bromley

Having said that, Dubravka's performances since stepping in for Pope this time have given Eddie Howe something to think about. He's looked a lot more solid and reliable than Pope has this season. The fact that he is comfortable with his feet is perfect right now as the defence is keeping the shot count to a minimum anyway.

So, while a move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Shabab looked destined at one point, the tide has now turned and Eddie Howe is trying to convince M-Dubz to hang around for another year.

Not only that, but the Newcastle fans played their part after the 3-1 win over Bromley on Sunday too, chanting "Martin Dubravka, we want you to stay".

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It could be all-change in the goalkeeper ranks in the summer

Odysseas Vlachodimos must be wondering what he's doing at Newcastle and fearing for his place in the Greece set-up due to a lack of game time, but Eddie Howe clearly doesn't see it in him, whatever "it" is.

James Trafford and Caoimhin Keller are both of interest to Newcastle, but the club are likely to wait until the summer to make a move for a 'keeper which is why it's important that Dubravka hangs around.

Eddie Howe wants to offer the Slovakian another contract, which leads us to believe that he'll be looking to sell Vlachodimos in the summer. John Ruddy and Mark Gillespie are both out of contract in the summer too, so we could go from too many goalkeepers to not enough goalkeepers by next season.

This whole thing has me baffled, quite frankly.

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