Championship rivals Leeds United and Aston Villa are both reportedly keen to sign Newcastle United goalkeeper Karl Darlow during the January transfer window, according to the Sun.

The 28-year-old has lost his number one spot in the Magpies' goal since the arrival of Martin Dubravka in January and is desperate for game time according to the report.

Both Marcelo Bielsa and Dean Smith have identified their goalkeeping spots as an area of particular weakness ahead of the Winter window.

In Leeds, summer signing Jamal Blackman suffered a serious leg-break that ended his season early whilst Orjan Nyland has proven frequently calamitous since arriving at Villa Park in the summer.

Darlow is currently suffering from an elbow injury but is due to be back in action before the turn of the year but it remains to be seen whether he will edge ahead of current Toon number two Freddie Woodman.

Nottingham Forest sold the shot-stopper for £4.5million in the summer of 2014 and he has gone on to make 59 appearances for Newcastle, but just one in the League Cup so far this season.

The verdict 

This looks like it would be a very classy signing for whoever gets their hands on him.

Darlow showed with Forest and then again with Newcastle that he is a top Championship goalkeeper and with both sides struggling in that department, could become the story of January.

It will be interesting to see whether Rafa Benitez is willing to sell, however.