Leeds United
Elland Road (Credit: Imago)
Leeds United may need to rethink parts of their transfer strategy this summer following growing uncertainty surrounding Karl Darlow’s future.
The club had been considering heading into next season with their current group of goalkeepers, while continuing to assess whether a new arrival was really necessary.
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Much of that planning, however, was based on Darlow committing his future to the club. With Manchester United now showing interest in signing the experienced goalkeeper on a free transfer, Leeds could be forced to accelerate their search for a replacement.
As a result, the Whites may now place greater emphasis on recruiting a new goalkeeper, and recent developments at Newcastle have potentially opened the door for Leeds to make a serious move for one of their leading targets, Nick Pope.
Read More: Newcastle United willing to listen to offers for Nick Pope
Newcastle are on the brink of signing a replacement for Nick Pope
Newcastle have asked Pope to report for pre-season training this summer. However, the club have made a major move to sign his replacement.
They have an agreement in place to sign Reims goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen as part of their plans to overhaul their goalkeeping department.
According to Shields Gazzette, the goalkeeper completed a medical with Newcastle on Monday night ahead of completing the formalities of the transfer.
Newcastle are expected to confirm the signing of Jaouen in the coming hours, a move that would bring Nick Pope one step closer to a potential departure from the club.
The Magpies do not want to push him out of the door, but it is clear he is not going to play regular football next season if he stays.
Leeds now have a major chance to make a move for the experienced goalkeeper and take him to Elland Road in the upcoming transfer window.
Newcastle are likely to demand around half of the £10m they paid to Burnley for Pope.
Leeds must make a move soon
Leeds United had been considering sticking with Karl Darlow and Lucas Perri as their goalkeeping options for next season, potentially avoiding the need to dip into the market for another goalkeeper this summer.
That plan now looks less straightforward. Perri has yet to fully establish himself since arriving at Elland Road, and if Darlow decides to move on, Leeds would almost certainly be forced to recruit a new first-choice goalkeeper.
The club have been eager to secure Darlow’s future with a new contract and would have preferred any incoming goalkeeper to replace Perri rather than the Welshman. While Leeds are willing to listen to offers for the Brazilian, Darlow’s departure would force a significant rethink of their transfer strategy.
With Manchester United showing interest in the veteran goalkeeper, Leeds may now have to move quickly in the market. If Darlow remains undecided about signing a new deal, the Whites could be pushed into stepping up their pursuit of Nick Pope sooner than they had anticipated.