According to reports in the Chronicle Live, Newcastle United are set to sign loan goalkeeper Martin Dubravka on a permanent deal in the summer.

What's the word, then?

Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka

Well, the Magpies brought the stopper in on a temporary deal until the end of the season from Sparta Prague during the January transfer window, and the Slovakia international has made a huge impact at St James' Park.

He has quickly established himself as the Rafa Benitez's first-choice goalkeeper ahead of the likes of Rob Elliot and Karl Darlow, although the Chronicle Live says he faces a tiring travelling schedule later this month when his country compete in the King's Cup in Bangkok, when they will face the United Arab Emirates on March 22 and then the winners of the clash between Thailand and Gabon later in the week, before returning to England for the huge Premier League clash against Huddersfield Town on March 31.

How well has Dubravka done?

He has done well, and his performances haven't gone unnoticed by the supporters.

The 29-year-old enjoyed a brilliant debut as kept a clean sheet in the 1-0 win against Manchester United last month, and as well as making some good saves he commanded his area well.

The stopper is yet to concede at St James' Park after keeping another shut-out in the 3-0 success against Southampton last weekend, although he has conceded four in two matches on the road against Liverpool and Bournemouth.

Would he be a good permanent signing?

Benitez was desperate to sign a new number one last summer and now it appears that in Dubravka, he has got the reliable stopper that he wanted.

The 29-year-old has already made a huge impression and looks to give the defence in front of him the confidence that perhaps Darlow and Elliot failed to previously, and that is really important.

Newcastle aren't a club that can go out and buy a top goalkeeper for lots of money, and having a international number one like the Slovakian is exactly what they should be aiming for.

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