Newcastle United man told to swap Tyneside for ‘much more comfortable’ Italy as Serie A sides circle

Newcastle United could be set for a major goalkeeping department overhaul this summer - and their job is not going to be made any easier by Loris Karius’ girlfriend Diletta Leotta.

Former Liverpool keeper Karius has made just one appearance for the Magpies this season - the 2-0 Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester United - and finds himself out of contract at the end of the campaign.

Karius is rarely, if ever, a member of the Magpies’ matchday squad, and is allowed time to travel back to Italy to be with Leotta, who is a high-profile TV presenter with DAZN.

And the German’s other half has been speaking to the Italian media about her partner’s future, with her ‘selfish’ hope revolving around a more permanent residence in her homeland.

“Would I like (Karius to be) closer? Selfishly yes,” Leotta told Gazzetta dello Sport. “But, at the same time, I wish him the best for his career.

“I don’t deny that it would be nice to see him play near me. Perhaps around Milan, or in Lombardy or in Liguria. In short, we can move throughout Northern Italy, but also to the centre or the south.

“It would be much more comfortable than in Newcastle.”

Karius, a reported target of Champions League finalists Inter Milan as well as a host of other Serie A sides, is not the only goalkeeper who faces an uncertain future on Tyneside.

Mark Gillespie is also out of contract, while Karl Darlow is likely to be keen to leave after a run of games in the Championship with Hull City. Current No.2 Martin Dubravka - the team’s former No.1 - left at the start of last season in search of games, but was returned from a loan spell with Manchester United having sparingly been used.