A deal between Manchester United and Newcastle United for goalkeeper Martin Dubravka is expected to be closed before the end of the transfer window on Thursday.
Dubravka moved to Newcastle in January 2018 on a loan deal, before being bought permanently later in the year.
The Slovakia international’s deal to United will also be on loan until the end of the current season, having been replaced as number one by the arrival of Nick Pope earlier this summer.
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Dubravka’s debut for the Magpies came in a 1-0 victory over United, with the goalkeeper impressing and showing the type of keeper he is in that match.
Though many football fans may not associate the 33-year-old with his footwork on the ball, he is certainly one who is more than capable of playing with the ball at his feet.
Speaking in 2018, Dubravka said: “I like to play as a right-winger. Sometimes I play outfield in training and the coaches say: ‘Why are you a goalkeeper, maybe you could change to being a midfielder?’ But it’s too late.”
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However, goalkeeping is something that runs in the family of the former Sparta Prague shot stopper.
He said: “My father and grandfathers were keepers and I’m tall,” almost leaving Dubravka with no other option.
Dubravka has always been keen to improve and understands what the modern-day goalkeeper needs in today’s game, which is quite contrasting to the attitude of David de Gea.
Not many expect Dubravka to overtake the Spaniard as Erik ten Hag’s first choice goalkeeper, but the current Newcastle man certainly has the capabilities and could surprise a few people at Old Trafford.
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In the same interview back in 2018, on the attributes a goalkeeper must possess today, Dubravka said: “In modern football the keeper’s almost like a libero [sweeper]. You need to play with the ball, not just kick it long. When I get possession, the manager [Rafa Benitez] wants me to try to play football.”
Another of Dubravka’s qualities is claiming crosses and confidence.
Over the last season, per 90, Dubravka averaged stopping 8.1% of the crosses he faced, an improvement on the staggeringly low 3% De Gea averaged.
Claiming crosses was something Benitez demanded of Dubravka.
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The goalkeeper said: “He wants me to be loud and to talk to people, to help them and be confident on crosses. I don’t want to look like I’m arrogant, just like I have enough confidence to help the guys.”
Dubravka has always been determined and is aware that winning matches is a team effort – a message that has been lost at United in recent seasons.
He continued: “If I can see a striker there, metres behind my defender, I’ll tell him. We need to know we’re all equal on the pitch. I don’t care if someone’s been here for five years, we have to fight together for the points.”
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Ahead of his Newcastle debut, Dubravka acted as a leading voice in the dressing room.
He said: “We knew nobody believed we could take three points, but I said to everyone: ‘You can always beat the best teams if you fight for each other.’ That’s why we won.”
United face Spanish side Real Sociedad a week on Thursday in their opening group stage game in the Europa League, and should Dubravka’s move be finalised as expected, there is a high chance he could start for the first time.
Topics: Manchester United, David De Gea, Erik Ten Hag
Aadam Haladh