Agent left ‘deflated’ after former Manchester United star rejects Newcastle United offer

Former England goalkeeper Ben Foster left his agent ‘deflated’ when he decided against accepting a short-term contract at Newcastle United.

An injury to Karl Darlow forced United into a drastic search for an emergency signing and an offer was made to former Manchester United and Watford stopper Foster.

The eight-times capped former Three Lions stopper recently revealed he was close to making the move to Tyneside but opted against it and chose to announce his retirement from the game.

That decision to reject an offer from the Magpies led Eddie Howe to make an ultimately successful offer to former Liverpool keeper Loris Karius.

The German penned a short-term deal keeping him at St James Park until January and made his first appearance in a matchday squad when he was an unused substitute in last weekend’s home draw with Bournemouth.

Karius will provide backup and competition for regular number one Nick Pope and could see his stay on Tyneside extended until the end of the season.

However, Foster seems to have been United’s first-choice for an emergency signing and his decision against the move left agent Richard Lee deflated after a whirlwind 48 hours.

He told The Athletic: “I got the call (from Foster) to say; ‘Rich, I’m not sure’.

“We had a few more calls and shared a few messages in which it sounded like he was coming round to it. But then I got the final call and I knew at that point it was a no.

“He’d asked for that figure almost not wanting them to get there. And the moment they accepted it, that provided clarity in his mind that he was done.

“Naturally there’s disappointment because he would have been perfect for the role. It may sound silly, but I was imagining being on that journey to Newcastle; knowing you’ve done a significant deal for a player.

“These are your magic moments. So it was a feeling of deflation after an exciting, adrenaline-fuelled day.”