Former Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius is set to sign for Newcastle United, according to reports.
Karius’ Liverpool contract ended in the summer, meaning he is a free agent and able to join Eddie Howe’s side outside of the transfer window, which closed last week.
The 29-year-old spent six years at Anfield but only played 49 times in total, and was sent out on loan to Turkish side Besiktas and Bundesliga club Union Berlin.
Karius, who was eventually replaced by Alisson Becker, is well known for his mistakes in the 2017-18 Champions League final, which saw Liverpool lose to 3-1 to Real Madrid after a Gareth Bale double.
That was the last game he ever played for Liverpool, and it was one to forget after he rolled the ball straight to Karim Benzema to score the opener before fumbling Bale’s 40-yard strike, after the Welshman scored a bicycle kick for the second.
Klopp was quizzed about the match in May ahead of Liverpool’s third Champions League final in five years and defended Karius, insisting he had a concussion.
‘Karius had a concussion,’ the German boss said. ‘It was proven afterwards. Nobody talks about that.’
But he is set to return to the Premier League by joining Newcastle, according to The Times, who are in need of a goalkeeper following an injury to their back-up stopper Karl Darlow.
Nick Pope has firmly established himself as the club’s No.1 after joining from Burnley this summer but they require cover for him after selling Martin Dubravka.
Manchester United signed Dubravka on deadline day after agreeing a loan deal with a £5m option to buy.
Erik ten Hag was keen to sign an experienced goalkeeper – one comfortable with the ball at this feet – to provide competition for David de Gea and settled on the 33-year-old Slovakia international.
Newcastle, meanwhile, also have goalkeeper Mark Gillespie in their ranks, although the 30-year-old only made three appearances last term in all competitions and he has never played in the Premier League.
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