Rafa Benitez has admitted that Rob Elliot could leave the club in the January transfer window, saying he is a good goalkeeper but someone who needs to be playing.
It’s no surprise really, with us having four capable goalkeepers on our books and Elliot seeming pretty low down in the pecking order after Dubravka’s stunning form since he arrived in January.
Here’s what Rafa said when he was asked whether Elliot could leave when the transfer window reopens:
“He Could be, yes. It could be an option. He’s a good keeper that is not playing, and Martin is doing really, really well,”
“So four keepers, goalkeepers need to play, but we have options there so maybe it is a possibility.”
A move could suit all parties really. At 32, Elliot has plenty years left in him, however it must be quite frustrating to gain so little game time – with him now appearing to be third choice at senior level behind Dubravka and Darlow.
Karl Darlow has just picked up an injury in training, so the severity of that may determine whether or not Elliot is even allowed to leave the club in January.
That being said, is it not time we gave Woodman a little more responsibility? He may need a loan move, but as an England U-21 and one of our top prospects in the U-23’s, there’ll soon come a time where he’ll want to be considered in the first-team picture.
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