OPINION
Newcastle United fans should be thrilled with the news that Martin Dubravka is edging closer to signing a new contract at St James’ Park.
According to the Chronicle, the 30-year-old goalkeeper is expected to be one of the first Newcastle players to agree fresh terms and although there is still work to be done, it would seem as though talks have been positive and should reach a conclusion before too long.
In the summer, the Daily Mail had reported that talks over a new deal with Dubravka had stalled but now it would seem as though progress has been made towards getting a deal which Football Insider has claimed will be worth £70,000-a-week.
Tying the Slovakia international down to new terms is something that Newcastle definitely need to do.
German magazine Kicker reported in July that Paris Saint-Germain wanted to sign the former Slovan Liberec ‘keeper while his agent Pavel Zika was quoted by the Mirror in March as saying Juventus were also interested.
Dubravka is a player that Newcastle should not consider selling and keeping him happy and tied down to a long deal at St James’ Park needs to be at the forefront of the mind of Steve Bruce and the rest of the hierarchy.
According to stats by WhoScored, Dubravka has averaged 2.6 saves per match in the Premier League this season and his average of making 0.3 saves from shots inside the penalty area ranks him joint-sixth among regular goalkeepers in the top-flight.
Dubravka is also joint-fifth with the likes of Ederson and Bernd Leno for saves made from shots inside the penalty area, with the Slovakian averaging 1.6 per match in that category.
Newcastle’s defence has conceded 13 goals in the opening eight matches of the Premier League season with Dubravka playing every minute in between the sticks.
That defensive record can be put down to Bruce’s pragmatic tactics and the form of Fabian Schar and Jamaal Lascelles. But it could also be put down to the fact that Newcastle have a superb goalkeeper in their squad that is wanted by top clubs in Europes and is ranking among the best goalkeepers in the Premier League at the moment.
It will be a happy day when the Slovakian ace finally puts pen to paper on fresh terms.
