Newcastle Transfer News: Alex McCarthy To Replace Tim Krul (If He Joins Juventus)
Newcastle United will move for Reading stopper Alex McCarthy if current number one Tim Krul joins Juventus in January or over the summer.
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The Daily Star has linked Dutch goalie Krul, 25, with a £20 million move to the Serie A giants as Antonio Conte turns his attention to finding a successor for Gianluigi Buffon in Turin. Krul is under contract at St James' Park until 2016 and recently won plaudits for a string of outstanding saves as the Toon beat Tottenham Hotpsur 1-0 at White Hart Lane. Magpies manager Alan Pardew thus has a contingency plan if he is sold and is set to bid for 23-year-old McCarthy. Since the Royals were relegated from the Premier League last term he has been first choice under Nigel Adkins. Reading remain in the mix for an immediate return to the top flight as they sit eighth two places and just a point outside the playoff places after 16 matches. McCarthy has kept five clean sheets in the Championship so far this term. Pardew also has uncapped Irish custodian Rob Elliot and young Jak Alnwick in and around the Newcastle first-team, but neither of this backup options have as much experience as McCarthy.