Leeds United are still in search of a goalkeeper following their pursuit of Newcastle United’s Nick Pope.
Illan Meslier’s woes last season are forcing the hand of the 49ers to find Leeds United a more consistent and reliable number-one in the Premier League.
Pope had emerged as a top target for Leeds and the links have been persistent throughout the summer transfer window so far, although Pope was always likely to be a complicated transfer for Leeds to complete this summer.
Newcastle fans want James Trafford by selling Pope, and the belief is that it could shift the availability of Newcastle’s current first-choice, with Pope entering the final 12 months of his Newcastle deal.
Nick Pope and Sean Longstaff of Newcastle United
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Leeds United won’t be signing Nick Pope, Marcin Bulka, or Lucas Perri currently this summer
However, yesterday Beren Cross has ended Leeds’ chances of Pope, meaning they will have to turn to alternatives instead.
Leeds have been linked with a number of goalkeepers already this summer but need to act swiftly to find an alternative to Pope if he was their top target this summer.
Some reports said that Poland goalkeeper Marcin Bulka had rejected a move to Leeds and preferred Sunderland. The Nice goalkeeper has now been linked with Saudi side Neom instead.
Lyon’s situation also saw rumours circulate that teams are looking to take advantage and sign Brazilian goalkeeper Lucas Perri. Leeds are among those keen on Perri in a £12.8 million deal.
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Leeds United Newsspoke exclusively to our transfer expert Graeme Bailey for his verdict on that pair of recently linked goalkeepers and what he has heard as the latest.
On Bulka, he said: “I believe — I haven’t had confirmation of this yet — but I believe he’s probably heading to Saudi.
“And I think Sunderland were ahead of Leeds in talks anyway. Leeds weren’t really in as much in the conversations for him.”
On Perri, he added: “Everything tells me Lyon will avoid relegation, from what I hear. There won’t be a fire sale at Lyon from what I understand.
“They don’t currently need to sell to the point where they are offloading their first-choice goalkeeper.
“Leeds are likely looking elsewhere in the market.”
It appears Leeds may have to begin the process of exhausting other options on their shortlist this summer.
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Stefan Ortega could be an option for Leeds
One option who ought to be on the club’s shortlist is a Man City goalkeeper. That’s because Stefan Ortega should be interesting Leeds.
That’s after reports stated he would be happy to leave Pep Guardiola’s side for another Premier League opportunity this summer, with regular first-team football deserting him at the Etihad.
He is in need of a fresh start while in the prime years of his career. After three seasons of being City’s No.2, he could become No.1 for Leeds instead.
Leeds and Daniel Farke would be totally negligent not to contemplate Ortega as an option in the summer transfer window over other potential names.
The primary stumbling block could be the wages of the former Arminia Bielefeld stopper.