Shock Newcastle United player told to leave as Champions League opportunity emerges

Chris Sutton has urged Martin Dubravka to ditch Newcastle United for Celtic this summer.

Reports have linked the Glasgow giants with the Magpies’ goalkeeper ahead of his Euro 2024 campaign for Slovakia. Former Manchester City shot-stopper Joe Hart retired at the end of the season, with Brendan Rodgers on the hunt for a new arrival.

Newcastle are also understood to be in the hunt for a new goalie to battle Nick Pope for the No.1 spot. The Magpies were vulnerable between the sticks in 2023-24, with Dubravka showing signs of decline when deputising for Pope.

He has one year left on his deal and Toon chiefs would be willing to listen to offers. Dubravka has been a mainstay on Tyneside since 2018 and any fee recouped would go towards the FFP/PSR coffers.

Writing for the Daily Record, ex-Celtic striker Sutton urged Dubravka to join his former club. The lure of Champions League football and Scottish silverware could also be a deciding factor.

“He’s played a lot of games for Newcastle in the last year but isn’t going to be first choice,” Sutton wrote. “There’s every chance he saw what Hart achieved at Celtic and fancies a bit of that himself. 

“Does he sit tight and ride out his final year at Newcastle as a backup, or perhaps drop down the division in England to get a regular game? Or does he come to Celtic, play every week and be in with the chance of winning silverware, while playing in the Champions League? I know what I’d be doing.”