Newcastle United agreement ‘close’ as player post two-word social media message.
Newcastle United goalkeeper Martin Dubravaka celebrated his 36th birthday with a 3-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday.
And with that marked a ninth consecutive win in all competitions for the Magpies and Dubravka since he replaced the injured Nick Pope a month ago. In those games, the Slovakian has conceded only three times and kept seven clean sheets.
Winning and being defensively solid has become the norm of late. It may be short and sweet but Dubravka simply writing “another one” on social media after the game is exactly right. Eddie Howe’s side are flying!
Rewind the clock back 10 days and there was doubt over whether Dubravka would actually remain at Newcastle beyond the January transfer window.
Dubravka, still, has an offer on the table from Saudi Pro League side Al Shabab and sources in the Middle East were adamant that last Tuesday’s 2-0 Carabao Cup semi-final first leg win at Arsenal would be his farewell appearance.
It was after that game when Howe first spoke of hoping to reach an agreement with Dubravka to keep him this month. The former Sparta Prague man is out of contract at the end of the campaign and Newcastle want to respect his wishes following seven years of service.
And is why Newcastle are keen to reward Dubravka for staying, whether that be a contract extension or increased terms to see him through to the summer.
“We’ve had discussions, of course, about his future but I think we’re very relaxed,” Howe said at the weekend.
“I said earlier, he never said he wanted to leave. I think he’s enjoying playing. He’s enjoying the moment the team’s in so I don’t expect any major announcement. We hope that everything will die down and now he’s very much part of our future.”
Since Arsenal, Dubravka has played against Bromley and Wolves, and is expected to start Saturday’s Premier League clash against AFC Bournemouth at St James’ Park.
You get the feeling an agreement is already done or at the very least close.
