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Newcastle will try to persuade Martin Dubravka to stay at the club beyond this month, Mail Sport can reveal.
There was a feeling this week that the club hierarchy might be willing to sanction the goalkeeper's move to Saudi Arabia, against the wishes of Eddie Howe.
However, we understand that all parties within St James' Park are on the same page and we would like Dubravka to stay, given that he is currently in the team and performing very well.
The complication is the Slovak's desire to join Al-Shabab, where a lucrative contract awaits him. He will turn 36 this month and his contract with Newcastle expires in the summer. He could also return to being a substitute once Nick Pope is fit later this month.
Howe and sporting director Paul Mitchell sympathize with Dubravka's situation and want the player to do the right thing.
But given there is very little financial incentive to let him go now, coupled with his importance to the team, it is understood that an effort will be made to keep him at St James' Park until the summer. It is unlikely that a new contract will be signed (the player is not believed to want this), but it could be that some reward is negotiated.
Martin Dubravka bid a tearful farewell to fans after Newcastle's victory over Arsenal on Tuesday.
But Eddie Howe wants Dubravka to stay rather than leave for Saudi Arabia this month.
Dubravka has been in good form as Newcastle have won their last seven games in all competitions.
The squad had a brief break following Tuesday's 2-0 win over Arsenal and, at the moment, no final decision has been made on their future.
Dubravka appeared to bid a tearful farewell to fans after the game at the Emirates Stadium, and the challenge for the club is to get him out of a mindset where he could have left.
If not for Pope's injury and Dubravka's subsequent excellent form, he would have been allowed to leave this month. But circumstances have changed and, with the potential of a Carabao Cup final on the horizon and a push for Champions League qualification, Newcastle want to retain a goalkeeper who has proven his worth in recent weeks.
