Goalkeeper Rob Elliot wants to remain at Newcastle United in the January window despite being put up for sale by manager Rafa Benitez, according to the Chronicle.
The regional newspaper report that the Republic of Ireland international has been informed that he is now the fourth-choice stopper on Tyneside behind Martin Dubravka, Karl Darlow and Freddie Woodman.
The Chronicle claim that the fully-fit Elliot would prefer to remain at Newcastle and fight for his place, but Benitez is instead preparing to offload the outcast and hand Woodman a chance in the FA Cup.
OPINION
It is interesting to hear that Elliot wants to remain at Newcastle after Benitez made it quite clear this week that the goalkeeper was up for sale. Obviously the Republic of Ireland international has a life on Tyneside and a family there, and is clearly happy to remain and fight for his place due to those reasons. However, Elliot is now 32 years old and approaching the twilight stages of his career. Surely he wants to make the most of that and play as much football as he can before retirement? As a goalkeeper he likely has five or six more years left in his career, but that time will whizz by before he knows it. A move elsewhere, to a club where he can become number one, is surely the best option for him at the moment. That will likely mean a drop down to the Championship, but he could well find himself back in the Premier League soon enough should he join a promotion contender. Obviously making the decision to drop down a division is a tough one, but it is necessary in this situation if Elliot wants to earn regular minutes.