Sport: Krul twist! Toon stopper says he's ready for season

Newcastle United goalkeeper Tim Krul says he will be ready to start the campaign with the club despite being eyed up by Arsenal.


The £15million-rated Dutch stopper is reportedly being tracked by Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, but says the pre-season and beginning of the Premier League term at Newcastle is first in his mind.

Krul, capped by Holland five times, made 24 appearances for Newcastle last season after an impressive first campaign on Tyneside in 2011-12.

The 25-year-old told The Sun: 'I will be fit for the first game of the season.

'I’ll try to get a couple of friendly games to get myself fully up to speed — and I’m right on schedule.'

Krul has been sidelined after requiring surgery on a dislocated shoulder in April, but Wenger is thought to be desperate for a goalkeeper to replace Wojciech Szczęsny as the club's number one.

QPR's Julio Cesar has also in Wenger's hit list, while former Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet had been tracked before Liverpool beat the Gunners to the Belgian's signature.

Arsenal are also thought to be considering whether to place a bid for Swansea defender Ashley Williams following Thomas Vermaelen’s back injury which threatens to rule him out of the start of the season.