Newcastle are closing in on shock move for Liverpool flop Loris Karius after Karl Darlow injury

Newcastle are reportedly close to sealing the signing of Loris Karius as an emergency option following an injury to Karl Darlow.

Liverpool flop Karius – who made 49 appearances for the club including an ill-fated Champions League final in 2018 – has been a free agent since leaving Anfield in the summer.

But Sky Sports are reporting the 29-year-old German – who went out on loan to Besiktas and Union Berlin while at Anfield – is set to undergo a medical on Tyneside ahead of signing a deal.

The Magpies are in a rush to hurry through a deal after Nick Pope’s understudy Darlow was confirmed to have suffered torn ankle ligaments by scans following his injury in training. 

Newcastle’s other established top-flight goalkeeper Martin Dubravka joined Manchester United on loan at the end of the transfer window that closed last week.

And the same outlet claims the Magpies cannot recall the 33-year-old Slovakia international until the January transfer window under the terms of his contract at Old Trafford.  

Former Carlisle and Motherwell shotstopper Mark Gillespie – who joined Newcastle on a three-year deal in 2020 – is the other option available to Eddie Howe but has only played in the League Cup since returning to the club 12 years after leaving.

That has led Newcastle to opt for a deal to sign Karius, who is unfortunately remembered for the two mistakes he made in their 3-1 Champions League final defeat by Real Madrid, the last competitive game he played for the Reds.

Karius joined Liverpool in 2016 where he was immediately thrown into the first-team, only to be dropped for Simon Mignolet half-way into the season after making a number of costly mistakes.

He would go on to win his place back the following season, making 33 in all competitions during the 2017-18 campaign.

The German though was directly at fault for two of the goals that went in during their Champions League final defeat in Kyiv.

He first threw the ball directly at Karim Benzema who opened the scoring, before he fumbled a long range Gareth Bale strike into the back of the net later in the game. 

Karius spent the next three years away on loan, two with seasons at Turkish side Besiktas, and a further year at Union Berlin.

He spent the last year at Liverpool but did not make an appearance all season, with Alisson, his replacement after the 2018 Champions League final, Caoimhin Kelleher and Adrian all ahead of him in the pecking order. 

Speaking to Sky Germany earlier this summer, Karius admitted he had his ‘ups and downs’ at Anfield.

‘There were ups and downs. It’s part of the game, that’s football, but I’ve developed as a person,’ he said.

‘The level at which we worked every day and the professionalism that everyone exemplifies was unique. 

‘I have that I’ve never experienced it before and that’s why we’ve celebrated a lot of successes there. I’ll take this determination with me to my next job. 

He added: ‘I’m free and I can make my own decisions. This is a new situation that I’m looking forward to. A new challenge is coming up, but that’s always a good thing. I’m ready, mentally and physically.’