Nottingham Forest could make late bid for second Newcastle United star

Newcastle United goalkeeper Karl Darlow could be offered an alternative route out of St James Park after being heavily linked with a move to Hull City.

The long-serving Magpies stopper was believed to be on the verge of joining the Championship club on loan for the remainder of the season after tonight’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Southampton. The 32-year-old is in United’s squad for the tie and was named among the substitutes as Eddie Howe’s side aim to secure a first appearance in a major cup final since falling to a 2-0 defeat against Manchester United in the 1999 FA Cup Final.

Magpies boss Howe confirmed Darlow’s expected switch in his pre-match press conference ahead of the meeting with the Saints, saying: “He will be involved with us tomorrow and then he’ll join Hull. Martin is cup-tied, Lorius is continuing to train well but we wanted Martin for this competition tomorrow.”

However, Sky Sports News are now reporting Darlow’s former club Nottingham Forest could make a last-ditch move for the keeper if their deal for Paris Saint-Germain stopper Keylor Navas falls through. The City Ground club were believed to have shelved their interest in the Costa Rica international earlier on Tuesday but talks with the Ligue 1 club resumed and there is now believed to be genuine hope on both sides an agreement can be reached before the 11pm deadline.

Should the move fail to come to fruition, Forest are now said to be ready to offer Darlow a chance to return to the club where he made over a century of appearances earlier in his career. The keeper would join Magpies team-mate Jonjo Shelvey at the City Ground after the United midfielder says his goodbyes at St James Park on Tuesday night.