Manager declares interest in Newcastle United man amid ‘unlikely’ Chelsea transfer claim

Hull City boss Liam Rosenior hopes to sign Newcastle United goalkeeper Karl Darlow on a permanent basis this summer.

The 32-year-old joined the Championship club on loan for the remainder of the season on January transfer deadline day. Darlow requested regular first-team football after making just one appearance for the Magpies in 2022-23.

Darlow sat on the Hull bench for the opening four matches after joining but has now started 10 consecutive games after displacing Matt Ingram in late February.

And he’s certainly impressed the Humberside faithful. Darlow won the club’s Player of the Month award for March, which has increased calls to sign the former Nottingham Forest man permanently.

Rosenior also hopes to bring Darlow back to the MKM Stadium next season after publicly favouring him over on-loan Chelsea goalkeeper Nathan Baxter.

“I think it’s unlikely that Nathan will come back here. He’s a very good goalkeeper, a great character and a great lad,” Rosenior told Hull Live.

“But with Karl being here, Karl at the moment is in the driving seat and he’s someone who I’m looking forward to, hopefully, working with him the long-term if we can get that sorted out.”

Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe is unlikely to stand in Darlow’s way, however may have to source a replacement before sanctioning his departure. Both Loris Karius and Mark Gillespie are out-of-contract in June, while No.2 Martin Dubravka is tipped to leave.

Asked if Hull had held talks with Newcastle, Rosenior said: “No, we haven’t. He’s a Newcastle player, he’s contracted to them and we’ll have to assess what happens in the summer.”

Darlow has made 100 appearances for Newcastle since arriving from Nottingham Forest in 2014.

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