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Newcastle United goalkeeper Martin Dubravka has reached a preliminary agreement to join a Saudi Pro League club, according to a report.
The Slovakian joined the Magpies in January 2018, initially on loan from Sparta Prague, before completing a permanent move the following summer after helping to keep the club in the Premier League.
For the next four seasons, Dubravka established himself as Newcastle’s No.1, however has been second choice since Nick Pope arrived from Burnley two and a half years ago.
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He joined Manchester United on loan for the 2022-23 campaign but was recalled halfway through after making just two Carabao Cup appearances. That resulted in him being cup-tied for the final, forcing third-choice Loris Karius to step up in Pope’s suspended absence.
A long-term shoulder injury for Pope last season saw the 35-year-old make 30 appearances in all competitions. However since the England international returned in May, Dubravka has only played twice, though is set for a run in the side with Pope out for a month with a knee injury.
That said, his future remains uncertain. The 35-year-old is out of contract at the end of the campaign and according to Ariyadhiah, which boasts one million followers on X, claims a preliminary agreement has been reached with Al Shabab.
Speculation comes after Al Shabab’s No.1 goalkeeper Kim Seung-Gyu suffered a second cruciate ligament injury.
After recruiting Odysseas Vlachodimos for a significant fee - a deal that helped Newcastle and Nottingham Forest comply with Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) as academy Elliot Anderson headed in the other direction for £35m - and John Ruddy on a free transfer in the summer, the Magpies currently have five goalkeepers on their books.
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