Rafa Benitez will be far from happy with the start his side has made in the Premier League campaign and he will know that his squad still needs a few additions before they can start to establish themselves in the top flight in England. This has seen the manager linked with a move for some exciting stars and the latest name doing the rounds is Orestis Karnezis.
Transfer story:
Udinese shot stopper Karnezis has now fallen down the pecking order at the Italian club and is reportedly ready for a move this summer. According to reports from trusted new sources, he is now up for sale and is wanted by the likes of Watford and Crystal Palace alongside Newcastle United this summer.
He has recently rejected a chance to join Napoli but is he a good option for the Magpies?
Who is Karnezis?
Born and brought up in Athens, Greece, the 32-year old shot stopper is currently the first choice for the country and has made 42 international appearances till date for Greece. He started his youth career at OFI, a Greek football club but only made a name for himself at Panathinaikos where he spent over seven long seasons, establishing himself in the first team.
He spent a year on the sidelines at Granada but moved to Italy in 2014 and has ever since acted as the first choice shot-stopper for the Serie A outfit. However, the changes at the club have pushed him down the pecking order and he is now looking for an exit.
At 32, the Greek international has 108 Serie A appearances and is one of the most experienced shot stoppers in Europe at the moment. He is known for his positioning and ability to stop close range efforts while his understanding of the game allows him to dominate his box, making him a perfect fit for the English game.
Chances at Newcastle:
The Magpies are expected to use Rob Elliot as the first choice shot stopper in the league this season. Matz Sels is now on loan at Anderlecht while Karl Darlow and Tim Krul are other options in the squad. Krul is just back from a loan spell and does not seem to have impressed Rafa enough to keep a place in the first team in England.
Here is where Karnezis is a superb option for the Magpies. At 29, Krul is the most experienced shot stopper on the bench for the side and is the best replacement for Elliot on goal. However, the Greece international is a genuine upgrade on Krul and will allow the Magpies to send Darlow on loan or Krul out of the club.
