Newcastle United goalkeeper Loris Karius has hinted he will be moving on from the club in the summer, as he looks to become a number one somewhere else.
The German has been speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport about his life and plans for the summer, when his current deal with Newcastle comes to an end.
The 30-year-old joined the Magpies on a free transfer in September 2022 after leaving Liverpool on a free transfer that summer.
He arrived at the club as the number two and back up to Nick Pope, who had arrived in July that year, and has played that role ever since.
Indeed, he’s managed just two appearances for Newcastle since arriving at St James Park, a measly amount even for a back up option at the club.
His career in general has been on that downward slide since his Champions League final troubles with Liverpool, with spells at Besiktas, Union Berlin and now Newcastle not helping to revive matters.
At 31, though, he still has plenty left in the tank and is now seemingly considering a move away from Newcastle when his contract expires in the summer, with Italy very much a possibility.
“Of course, it would be a great solution if there were good options for me, regardless of proximity to my family,” he said.
“I have always followed Serie A and it intrigues me a lot, but it is too early to talk about the future. Claudio (Marchisio) and I are friends, I know him well and I think he is the right person.
“I want to go back to being number one like I always have been except for the last two years. When I play I do well and I know I have enough quality to perform at the highest levels again.
“When I arrived, they already had a starting goalkeeper, and it wasn’t easy for me. I definitely aim to play more and that’s why I train hard every day.
“Being a goalkeeper is very difficult, the challenge is to stay positive knowing that you are not playing and to be ready.
“You’re alone in goal, when you score goals, all eyes are on you but when you do something positive no one cares. It’s part of the game, you have to be mentally strong, more than others.”
