A priority for Leeds United will be a new goalkeeper in the coming weeks, with Daniel Farke expected to have a brand new shot-stopper between the sticks against Everton on August 18.
It is now less than six weeks until Leeds United’s Premier League opener against Angus Kinnear’s new side at Elland Road, under the lights on a Monday night. So far, Adam Underwood has made four signings.
The club are working hard. So far, the club have sorted out the defence with Jaka Bijol set to partner Joe Rodon, Sebastiaan Bornauw replacing Max Wober and Gabriel Gudmundsson coming in for Junior Firpo.
It feels Leeds’ next priority is central midfield, though a £12m bid for Sean Longstaff has been rejected contrary to initial reports. Leeds have been told that Hoffenheim’s Anton Stach will cost a £17m fee.
But perhaps more-importantly, Leeds need a new goalkeeper. Torino’s Vanja Milinkovic-Savic and Lyon ace Lucas Perri are the front runners but this week, Leeds have been linked with a new goalkeeper.
Jose Mourinho during a Fenerbahce game.
Photo by Seskim Photo/MB Media/Getty Images
Leeds and Mourinho can now agree the perfect swap deal
Indeed, Croatia’s 2022 World Cup hero Dominik Livakovic has been touted as a target for Leeds. Reports say Leeds have tabled a £6m bid for Livakovic, who joined Fenerbahce after the World Cup in Qatar.
Interestingly, Leeds were linked with Livakovic in the January window after his heroics at the World Cup, in which he saved three penalties against Japan in the last 16, before starring against Brazil in the quarters.
Now, Livakovic is expected to leave Fener and Leeds have made a bid. Leeds’ interest in Livakovic comes after Illan Meslier was touted with a move to Fenerbahce himself, likely to be for a similar kind of fee.
Dominik Livakovic at the 2022 World Cup during a game between Spain and Croatia.
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
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With Fener supposedly keen on Meslier and Leeds making a bid for Livakovic – and, both goalkeepers rated at a similar kind of fee – surely it hands Leeds and Mourinho the ideal chance to do a swap deal.
Why Meslier and Livakovic are leaving Leeds and Fenerbahce?
Meslier was all smiles in Leeds’ behind-the-scenes video. But the feeling is that Meslier will be on the move this summer, with the Frenchman’s contract set to expire at the end of the 2025-26 season.
Illan Meslier ahead of a game against Preston.
Photo by Pat Scaasi | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
His mistakes last season saw Phil Hay suggest that Meslier needs a change of scenery, a new start and a new challenge. For Livakovic, it appears that Mourinho himself just fancies a chance between the sticks.
Both goalkeepers need a new start and it is not as if either club are getting a bad-end of a swap deal. It makes sense for all parties involved if Leeds and Fenerbahce can agree a straight swap for the duo.