'An option' - 32 y/o revealed he ‘refused’ to sign for Newcastle United last summer

Former Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Andrey Lunev has revealed he rejected an approach to join Newcastle United last summer.

Big-money signings dominated the news agenda - and debate among fans - last summer. The likes of Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes, Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall grabbed the imagination of supporters as Eddie Howe prepared for a Champions League campaign.

However, the less-eye-catching role of third-choice goalkeeper was also up for grabs. Loris Karius had filled that position the previous season and was called upon for the Carabao Cup final - the club’s biggest game in a generation.

Newcastle needed a steady set of hands ready to step up should disaster strike Nick Pope and Martin Dubravka. As it happened, the Magpies persuaded Karius to stay another year, with the German now expected to leave at the end of the season.

Former Leverkusen shot-stopper Lunev, a Russian international, had been touted as a potential option. The 32-year-old has since joined Qarabag FK in the Azerbaijan Premier League and recently opened up about almost signing for Newcastle.

“There was an option (to play in England) when I was at Bayer,” Lunev said. “One friend said there was an opportunity to go to Newcastle and be a third or fourth-choice goalkeeper there.

"He told me that they have two experienced goalkeepers and are missing a third goalkeeper. They just took Karius, I refused.

“I'm almost 33 years old, so I still want to play football. Perhaps, at 36 years old, you will want to look at England. Then you can sit on the bench and watch!"