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Augsburg's Rafal Gikiewicz reveals Manchester United, Newcastle United summer interest

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 03 November 2022

Augsburg's Gikiewicz reveals Man United, Newcastle summer interest

Augsburg goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz reveals that Manchester United and Newcastle United were both interested in his services during the summer transfer window.

Augsburg goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz has revealed that Manchester United and Newcastle United were both interested in his services during the summer transfer window.

After allowing Dean Henderson to join Nottingham Forest on loan, the Red Devils entered the market for a new shot-stopper to provide competition for David de Gea.

Man United eventually reached an agreement with Newcastle to sign Martin Dubravka on a season-long loan deal after the Magpies had completed the signing of Nick Pope from Burnley for around £10m.

After the transfer window had shut, Newcastle then bolstered their options between the sticks further by recruiting former Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius on a free transfer.

It has since emerged that both Man United and Newcastle also had their eyes on 35-year-old Gikiewicz, who has revealed that a move to the Premier League failed to materialise despite signing documents with both clubs ahead of a potential transfer.

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe and Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag pictured on October 16, 2022 © Reuters

"Not only was I linked, but I also signed various powers of attorney with either Manchester United or Newcastle United," Gikiewicz told Canal+Sport via Sport Witness.

"In the goalkeeper market, everything works like dominoes. As Martin Dubravka leaves, this is the place and so on.

"They called me from England and asked if I wanted to take a risk. At the same time, they added that something could happen in the last hours of the transfer window and whether I wanted to take a risk. I was sitting at home, so what's the risk? I signed everything and waited for the development of events."

Gikiewicz added: "I sign such papers practically every six months. At the age of 34 or 35, interesting clubs apply. It just shows me that I am doing a good job in the Bundesliga."

Augsburg's Rafal Gikiewicz pictured on November 19, 2021 © Reuters

Gikiewicz spent the first seven years of his career in his native Poland before moving to Germany to join 2. Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Braunschweig in 2014.

The 6ft 3in goalkeeper then stepped up to the Bundesliga with Freiburg, but featured only four times across two seasons before making 75 appearances for Union Berlin between 2018 and 2020.

Gikiewicz has since spent the last two years as Augsburg's number one, keeping 20 clean sheets in 81 appearances across all competitions.

The experienced stopper, who has been sidelined since the beginning of October with a leg injury, will see his contract at Augsburg expire next summer.