Martin Dubravka has not yet agreed a deal with Saudi Pro League side Al-Shabab but the next week will be critical for his Newcastle United future.
Sources close to the player have played down reports in Saudi Arabia that Tuesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Arsenal could be his final game for the club.
Indeed it has been claimed that Newcastle may stage a last-ditch attempt to convince Dubravka to remain at St James’ Park with the possible offer of a contract extension.
His form in the absence of first-choice goalkeeper Nick Pope – who has been missing for six weeks – has been excellent, with three straight clean sheets prior to the win over Tottenham Hotspur.
Dubravka has been preferred to summer signing Odysseas Vlachodimos, who joined Newcastle as an expensive makeweight in the deal that took Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest to prevent a breach of the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
A move to the Middle East still appears likely, with one source telling The i Paper it is “60/40” that he will join Al-Shabab, whose incoming sporting director Pavel Nedved is a big fan of the Slovakia international.
As well as a two-year contract on more money that he earns at Newcastle, he would be assured of the No 1 spot and the chance to remain in the national team picture ahead of the World Cup qualifiers.
The Magpies are also interested in James Trafford, the Burnley and England Under-21 goalkeeper who came close to moving to St James’ Park last summer.
Dubravka’s situation is a real test for director of football Paul Mitchell, who has been charged with making the club better sellers as well as more astute buyers.
It makes business sense but there is no doubt that Eddie Howe would prefer to retain Dubravka given doubts over Pope’s fitness.
There is no definitive timescale for his return but he is unlikely to be fit for games against Bromley or Wolves next week.
Howe admitted on Monday that the club may have to make uncomfortable decisions in the January transfer window.
“The business logic is taking over from the football logic,” he said.
“We had to lose two highly promising young players in June because of PSR. We were forced to, we had no choice. That is very much the business taking over from the football.
“I think we are still in that position.”
Insiders say Newcastle’s current PSR position is complex, with any incomings likely to be balanced by outgoings.
That is why a move for Lens defender Abdukodir Khusanov has not been straightforward.
An outstanding prospect, Mitchell is a big fan of the centre-back, who is also a target for Manchester City.
But his fee would require departures – either in January or before the “soft” PSR deadline of 30 June – and there is a firm commitment not to find themselves back in the position they were last summer when Anderson and Yankuba Minteh were both sold.
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