Newcastle United seem to be heading to a safe place ownership wise, as reports indicate that Mike Ashley will finally sell the club for £350 million.
With that set to be sorted in the next few weeks, the future of manager Rafa Benitez could also be finalised, who can then add some much-needed quality to his side.
The Magpies want to sign 25-year-old German-born Greek goalkeeper Odisseas Vlachodimos from Portuguese club Benfica to provide competition current no. 1 Martin Dúbravka, according to Portuguese outlet A Bola.
Roma are the other club interested in signing Vlachodimos, and Benfica are demanding €20 million for the Greek international.
Born in Germany, Vlachodimos came through the youth academy at VfB Stuttgart, before making a name for himself at Greek club Panathinaikos, and now at Benfica, where he moved to in the 2018 summer transfer window.
The custodian signed for Benfica for €2.43 million on a five-year contract, which will expire in 2023.
Will he be a good option for Rafa Benitez at Newcastle United?
In his first season in Portugal, the Greek goalkeeper was in fine form, helping the side to the Portuguese league title, and ended 3rd on the list of most clean sheets in the league with 15 clean sheets.
Vlachodimos featured in 50 games for the club in all competitions, which included the league, Champions League, and Europa League.
Dubravka was Benitez’s first choice for the entire season, playing most of the matches. But with Newcastle set to get a sizable transfer kitty, the Spanish manager could strengthen the side and add competition to various positions, including the goalkeeping one.
Vlachodimos is a highly-rated keeper who has significant first-team experience in Europe at just 25 years of age. A confident shot-stopper, the Greek international is courageous in putting his body on the line and diving in to make saves. He is a good one-on-one shot-stopper, who has quick reflexes and get down quickly despite his 6’2″ frame.
Benitez should make a move for Vlachodimos as he is a ‘keeper who can provide good competition to Dubravka, which has been missing as the other options in goal at Newcastle haven’t been able to challenge the Slovakian.