KARL DARLOW is set to make a decision over his future in the next couple of weeks, with Middlesbrough currently in pole position to sign the goalkeeper from Newcastle United.

Darlow has been taking a break since the end of last season, but the 32-year-old is understood to be keen to resolve his future before clubs start returning to pre-season training at the start of next month.

He has the option of remaining at Newcastle United, with his contract at St James’ Park not due to expire for another two years. However, Nick Pope is firmly established as the Magpies’ number one, Martin Dubravka also remains on the books, Loris Karius has been offered a new deal and Newcastle have opted to take up their option of extending Mark Gillespie’s contract by another 12 months.

As a result, if Darlow remains on Tyneside, he will almost certainly be Newcastle’s third-choice goalkeeper at best, and he is therefore expected to opt for a permanent move away from St James’.

Middlesbrough have held discussions over the shot-stopper, and are hoping to persuade him to move to the Riverside next season.

Zack Steffen’s return to Manchester City means the Teessiders need a new number one shot-stopper, with Michael Carrick not expected to promote last season’s number two, Liam Roberts, to the starting line-up.

Similarly, while Sol Brynn has been retained, the youngster, who spent last season on loan at Swindon Town, is not currently regarded as being ready for an extended run in the first team.

Within Middlesbrough’s recruitment team, there is a desire to prioritise the purchase of younger players this summer, however there is also an acceptance that goalkeeper is a specialist role that requires a greater degree of experience than the majority of outfield positions.

Darlow is regarded as a proven performer following his time with Newcastle and last season’s successful loan spell at Hull City. The Northampton-born keeper made 12 senior starts for the Tigers in the second half of last season, and Hull boss Liam Rosenior is keen to re-sign him on a permanent basis this summer.

READ MORE:

Hull should be able to meet Newcastle’s financial demands, but despite Darlow having enjoyed his time at the MKM Stadium last season, Boro are hoping he will opt for a switch to the Riverside ahead of a return to Humberside.

Boro progressed rapidly under Michael Carrick last season, and will hope to be involved in another promotion push next term, which should make them an appealing proposition to a player like Darlow, whose next move is likely to be the final big transfer of his career.

There is still an outside chance that Steffen could return to the Riverside for a second loan spell, but the American is currently recuperating from a post-season operation on his knee and there is still a considerable amount of doubt about when he will be in a position to return to competitive action.

Even if he was to prove fitness before the transfer window closes at the end of August, his current wages at Manchester City would make it difficult for Boro to sign him on a permanent basis. Another loan would be a possibility, although it remains to be seen whether Manchester City would be interested in such a proposition.

There was positive news on the injury front for Boro on Monday night when Paddy McNair played the full 90 minutes of Northern Ireland’s Euro 2024 qualifying defeat to Kazakhstan.

McNair had been a major pre-match doubt ahead of the game after suffering an Achilles problem in last week’s defeat in Denmark.

However, the fact that he was able to come through the full 90 minutes at Windsor Park unscathed means he should be fine to return for the start of Middlesbrough’s pre-season as planned. Some of Boro’s players are due to reconvene at Rockliffe Park next week, although the club’s international contingent will be given additional time off after representing their respective countries in the last week.

Elsewhere on Monday, Darragh Lenihan was an unused substitute as the Republic of Ireland beat Gibraltar 3-0, having been criticised for his performance in his side’s weekend defeat in Greece.