Newcastle United fans have taken to Twitter to express that surprise that Karl Darlow is reportedly in talks over a five-and-a-half year contract with the club.
Ed Aarons, Guardian Sport’s deputy news editor,reported on his personal Twitter account on Tuesday afternoon that the Magpies have opened discussions on tying the 27-year-old down at St James’ Park until the summer of 2023.
Karl Darlow is in talks with Newcastle over a new 5-and-a-half year contract #nufc
— Ed Aarons (@ed_aarons) January 9, 2018
The former Nottingham Forest goalkeeper confirmed earlier in the season that he was on the brink of departing the club for good, having agreed a deal to join north east rivals Middlesbrough, but a deal fell through and he remained on Tyneside.
Darlow has played second fiddle to number one Rob Elliot this season after playing much of the Championship campaign in the starting XI, when the Republic of Ireland international was out with a serious knee injury.
Darlow has made just seven appearances in all competitions in 2017-18, although he has accumulated a total of 53 outings since joining from Forest in 2015.
Newcastle fans have taken to Twitter en masse to react with surprise to the report of the possibility of a long-term deal for Darlow, whose current contract expires in 2020,
This Is Futbol has rounded up some of the best tweets:
https://twitter.com/BenArfaChance/status/950749287289425921
https://twitter.com/letswaitandsee9/status/950749236739608577
https://twitter.com/dustyrerds/status/950746905432199168
https://twitter.com/AndrewJamesNUFC/status/950745493428109313
Wtf. I can understand a new contract to protect value (not sure when expires?) but 5.5 years is a surprise!
— Al Campbell (@Al_inDK) January 9, 2018
https://twitter.com/JordNufcmorris/status/950743823046627329
Odd as hes argueably not first choice plus is common knowledge rafa wants to bring in a better keeper
— Duncan Mason (@Duncan_Mason) January 9, 2018
I'd be surprised if this Darlow rumour is true.
— John (@1892JP) January 9, 2018