It looks like Newcastle United stopper Karl Darlow will spend the second half of the season at Hull City.
Tigers Chairman Tan Kesler claims the goalkeeper is close to signing for the Championship side on loan – although it might be a few days until it’s announced, despite all the paperwork being ‘completed.’
With Martin Dubravka cup tied, Eddie Howe will keep Darlow on Tyneside for our semi-final second leg against Southampton next week before the 32-year-old is allowed to leave.
Behind only Paul Dummett, he’s the second longest-serving player within our current squad, having arrived eight and a half years ago from Nottingham Forest.
Here’s what Kesler exclusively told the i’s Mark Douglas:
“Karl Darlow is coming from Newcastle, we have completed his paperwork.
“In terms of when we will announce, it’s a tricky one, I want fans to be patient with us.
“The club – Newcastle – and the player wanted to participate in their cup journey and we have respected that.
“Hopefully once it’s done he will be joining us but the paperwork already has the signature on it.
“There’s no problems with the deal.”
Kesler then hinted at a potential long-term move for Darlow if the next six months go to plan:
“We have very good goalkeepers already. Matty (Ingram) is brilliant, he is leading the league in saves if not the top three,”
“But we have an unfortunate moment last season where we had both senior goalkeepers injured. We don’t want the same situation.
“We want Karl because he’s experienced promotion and played at the highest level. He’s got different skills and attributes to Matty. I want our fans to know we’ll have two good goalkeepers we’ll feel secure about.
“Karl had other clubs but thanks to him, he believed in [manager] Liam (Rosenoir’s) style of play, the owner’s vision and he has agreed to join us. He has joined us for six months, you never know it could be long-term but in the end we have three young goalkeepers we’re trying to develop, Harvey Cartwright is an England under-20, Thimothee Orcel-Lo Tutala, who is a France under-20 international.
“For the short-term we needed more experience and more presence.”
