Eddie Howe confirms contact from Man Utd over Martin Dubravka
By Tom Gott
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has confirmed the club have been contacted by Manchester United over a loan deal for goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.
Dubravka has lost his place in the Newcastle lineup to summer signing Nick Pope and 90min understands United are looking to take advantage of that by bringing the Slovakia international to Old Trafford.
Contact between the two clubs has since been confirmed by Howe, who stressed his reluctance to let Dubravka go.
"There has been contact between the clubs and those discussions will continue," the Newcastle boss said.
"In terms of a final outcome, I'm reluctant to lose any important players from the group so that will be a decision that is out of my hands."
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Dubravka's agent, Daniel Zik, has confirmed the 33-year-old is unhappy to have lost his starting spot at St James' Park and is looking for the opportunity to play regular first-team football - something which may be unlikely in Manchester.
David De Gea remains United's starting goalkeeper, despite a rocky start to the current season, although the Red Devils' plan has always been to have a high-level backup to provide serious competition for the Spaniard.
That role was taken by Dean Henderson before his summer loan to Nottingham Forest, and United have since looked at a number of possible replacements, with Dubravka's name on a lengthy shortlist that also includes Alex McCarthy, Kevin Trapp, Yann Sommer, Odysseas Vlachodimos, Daniel Bachmann and Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Trapp has come forward to confirm he has rejected an offer from United.