Rafa Benitez has confirmed that Newcastle United are still searching for a “goalkeeper with more experience” as he sends his clearest message yet to his senior stoppers.

Benitez has told Tim Krul to find a new club but has also addressed the future for the three goalkeepers who will be part of his first team squad:

– Freddie Woodman will STAY at United until January, when he may be available for loan

– Karl Darlow is up for sale – but has been told he is still competing for a first team spot

– Rob Elliot is number one but knows United are hunting for a more experience goalkeeper

It is one of the situations to watch at St James’ Park in the coming days before the transfer deadline, with Benitez fully aware that many supporters don’t understand why he is shaking up a department where United have several talented options.

But Benitez – who signed Matz Sels last summer but knows that has not worked out – sees the goalkeeper as his on-field leader and believes it is one of the most important positions on the field.

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“Our fans are saying ‘Rafa is talking about keepers but we need another striker’ but we know our job,” he told the Sunday Sun.

Benitez would have loved to take Pepe Reina from Napoli, where he is embroiled in a political situation with the club president, but the player is on a big contract and wants to play Champions League football. Reina is a dressing room leader, on-field lieutenant and a perfect conduit for the manager too. Benitez wants someone similar, with experience, to add another element to his squad.

(Image: Newcastle United)

In the meantime, he has offered the clearest message yet to fans on what is happening with the three goalkeepers on his books – including Woodman, who is wanted by Crystal Palace, Spurs and Everton.

He said: “I was explaining to our three keepers the situations. Rob knows he must compete to be number one. Darlow: he knew we were open for offers and at the moment, he knows he must stay and fight to do his best to compete.

“Freddie is more difficult. We don’t want to lose Freddie. He is a goalkeeper with great potential. A good ‘keeper, still a young ‘keeper with great potential.

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“The idea is to protect us as a club and make sure he progresses, to keep him until January and then he can go on loan. He can play with the under-23s and stay with the first team and work with the first team ‘keepers every day. Then we are covered if we have any problems because he has the quality (to play in the first team).

“Personally he thinks he would like to play because he wants the experience. I told him he can play with the under-23s and we don’t want to lose. We have decided that he will stay with us and can go on loan in January if he needs more experience.”

Benitez also confirmed he still wants to sign a stopper before the August 31 deadline. “In the meantime we are looking for a goalkeeper with more experience to compete against them. After that we must decide what to do with our goalkeepers,” he says.