Newcastle United man drops major hint over St James' Park summer transfer exit

Loris Karius is ready to leave Newcastle United this summer after hiring a new agent in hope of securing a summer move to Italy.

The former Liverpool goalkeeper joined the Magpies as a free agent in September 2022 but has made just two appearances in that time - the Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester United last year and the recent 4-1 loss away to Arsenal.

Karius is out-of contract at the end of the campaign and he has already set his sights on moving to Italy, where his partner, football presenter Diletta Leotta, and child are based.

“Of course, it would be a great solution if there were good options for me, regardless of proximity to my family,” Karius told Gazzetta dello Sport. “I have always followed Serie A and it intrigues me a lot, but it is too early to talk about the future. Claudio (Marchisio) and I are friends, I know him well and I think he is the right person.

“I want to go back to being number one like I always have been except for the last two years. When I play I do well and I know I have enough quality to perform at the highest levels again.

“When I arrived, they already had a starting goalkeeper, and it wasn’t easy for me. I definitely aim to play more and that’s why I train hard every day.

“Being a goalkeeper is very difficult, the challenge is to stay positive knowing that you are not playing and to be ready.

“You’re alone in goal, when you score goals, all eyes are on you but when you do something positive no one cares. It’s part of the game, you have to be mentally strong, more than others.”

Karius, who has hired Circum - an agency led by former Juventus star Claudio Marchisio and Alessandro Tocci - has been third choice behind Nick Pope and Martin Dubravka,