Newcastle United are one of three clubs to taste top flight football this season, moving to the Premier League from the Championship and though the Magpies were easily the best team in the second tier, they will have to take a big step forward, if they are to compete with the best in the business.
Rafa Benitez has made a couple of decent additions to the squad but is now actively looking for players for particular positions in the squad. One such player they want, to improve their options in the goalkeeping department is Lukas Raeder.
Newcastle United and Borussia Dortmund interested:
The Magpies have been searching for a shot-stopper who can walk into the first team next season but are yet to land a stellar name this summer but according to reports from the Daily Mail, they are keeping tabs on former Bayern Munich star Lukas Raeder.
Also wanted at the Signal Iduna Park, Raeder is now a free-agent, having left Vitoria Setubal at the end of the previous season. He is without a contract and is available for free and Rafa Benitez wants him in his squad at the St James’ Park this season.
Who is Lukas Raeder?
Born and brought up in Essen, Germany, the 23-year-old spent his youth career at five different clubs before being signed up by Bayern Munich in 2012. After two years in the second side, Lukas only managed two senior appearances at the Allianz Arena and was allowed to leave to Vitoria Setubal, a Portuguese top flight outfit.
In his three years at the club, he failed to establish himself in the first team, making just 27 league appearances in Portugal and decided not to extend his contract beyond this summer.
Known for his reflexes and shot-stopping abilities, Lukas stands at 6ft 4in and is a huge frame to beat between the sticks. He is not too confident with the ball at his feet and needs to improve on his distribution but he is more than capable of dominating his box on a consistent basis.
Chances at St James’
The Magpies had loads of options last season but Rafa decided to send Matz Sels on loan to Anderlecht. Tim Krul is back from his loan stint in Netherlands but Rob Elliot is expected to be the first choice this season for Newcastle.
Freddie Woodman had a stellar time in the off-season but is not ready for the hustles of the Premier League and could be loaned out while Karl Darlow has not been able to impress the manager and might be sold before the deadline day.
Lukas is not going to walk into the first team at Newcastle but he is definitely a player who will be on the fringes of the first team and will get his chances to impress in the domestic cup competitions. At just 23, he is going to get better with more game time and could turn into a superstar for the Magpies in years to come.
