Sources: Newcastle star Loris Karius in line to quit on Monday
Newcastle must make a decision on the future of goalkeeper Loris Karius by next week due to a clause in his contract, sources have told Football Insider.
Karius, 29, sees his short-term deal at St James’ Park expire at the end of January.
It is understood that there is a deadline in the contract of January 16 for Newcastle to decide to extend his contract or end it.
The former Liverpool shot-stopper’s future has been complicated by the early return of Martin Dubravka from his loan spell at Manchester United.
Dubravka’s return has pushed Karius down to fourth-choice keeper on Tyneside.
The German joined Newcastle as a free agent in an emergency short-term deal back in September following an injury to Karl Darlow, but he has yet to play for Eddie Howe’s side.
Summer signing Nick Pope has started each of the Magpies’ 18 Premier League fixtures this season, keeping 10 clean sheets – the best record in the top flight.
Dubravka returned between the sticks against Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup on Saturday (7 January), while Darlow played in the League Cup in August.
Karius racked up 49 appearances for Liverpool between 2016 and 2022, but was farmed out on loan by the Reds following his Champions League final horror show in 2018.
Newcastle sit third in the Premier League after losing just one of their opening 18 top-flight games of the season.
The Magpies face Leicester on Tuesday (10 January) with a place in the League Cup semi-final at stake.
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