Newcastle United reportedly 'would like' to sign Lazio shot-stopper Thomas Strakosha on a free transfer this summer.
The Lowdown: Out of contract
Strakosha is out of contract in the summer, having not been able to agree a new deal with I Biancocelesti.
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This means that he will be able to leave as a free agent, and given that he currently holds a market value of £6.3m, signing him could represent a real bargain for any club looking to secure his signature.
The Latest: Strakosha eyed
As per Corriere della Sera’s Roma edition (via Sport Witness), the St. James' Park faithful 'would like' to sign Strakosha once his contract expires, and they are one of a few 'admirers' in England.
It does not look like a new deal with Lazio will be struck, as manager Maurizio Sarri wants 'someone else' between the posts, and so this is a move that could well happen should they manage to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
The Verdict: No-brainer
With the chance to sign Strakosha for free, it is surely a no-brainer for the North East club.
Crucially, he is just 27 years of age, and so would hold a healthy sell-on value, even if it does not quite work out on Tyneside.
Nonetheless, there is no reason why it should not work out, given how highly he is regarded in Italy, with former Lazio goalkeeper Silvio Proto once dubbing him as 'explosive' and a 'phenomenon'.
At six-foot-four, the Albania international is a colossus, and with Martin Dubravka now 33, Strakosha is a worthy and cheap replacement, allowing the new owners on Tyneside to splash their cash in other areas of the pitch.