Loris Karius’ contract negotiations with Newcastle United are set to begin, with Eddie Howe open to keeping the former Liverpool goalkeeper beyond January.
In September, the 29-year-old signed a short-term contract with St James’ Park as a replacement for Karl Darlow, who injured his ankle in training.
Darlow’s return last month means Karius is now the third choice behind the former Nottingham Forest man and Nick Pope but Howe has seen enough qualities to want to keep him in the squad.
Karius is understood to have improved significantly simply through regular training time, a luxury he didn’t necessarily have during the latter stages of his Liverpool career.
The German has also contributed to the dynamics of the locker room by assisting his teammates, particularly the goalkeeper union.
Karius has yet to play for Newcastle, but that could change in this evening’s friendly against Al-Hilal (kick-off 5 pm GMT), with Pope representing England at the World Cup.
Depending on what Howe decides, the Magpies’ head coach could give Darlow and Karius minutes. Mark Gillespie has also arrived in Riyadh, but he is unlikely to play after being left out of the club’s 25-man Premier League squad.
Gillespie, a lifelong Newcastle supporter, is out of contract at the end of the season.
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