Leeds United are pursuing a new goalkeeper at the start of June, and have set their sights on Newcastle United’s Nick Pope for that transfer.
Daniel Farke’s decision to replace Illan Meslier with Karl Darlow proved to be vital in securing the Championship title last season, but it further outlined the issue that needs resolving this summer with a new goalkeeper signing.
Adding Premier League experience is another facet of recruitment that Leeds need to focus on, and they could kill two birds with one stone with their current ‘keeper target.
Most Read on LeedsAllOver
Leeds United make enquiry to sign Newcastle United’s Nick Pope
33-year-old Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope is the man that has emerged at the top of the shortlist at Elland Road.
(REUTERS/Scott Heppell)
The Whites are claimed to have lodged an enquiry into signing the Magpies man, who is set to see his starting spot at St James’ Park come under threat.
Eddie Howe’s side have been well-documented in their search for a new number one, which could take them to Pope’s former club Burnley, with James Trafford their priority target after his historic season at Turf Moor.
Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United stance on Nick Pope transfer to Leeds United revealed
Now, The Times have reported that Eddie Howe is hoping that Pope remains on Tyneside for the upcoming season regardless of their pursuit of Trafford.
Having the experienced stopper in as competition for Trafford is the hope for Howe and Newcastle, but they are claimed in the same report to also be looking at reducing the average age of their squad too.
Pope at 33 would be one of the players that could reduce that number by leaving to Leeds, while Leeds’ average age of 25.4 in 24/25 would have them the eighth-youngest in the PL.
Nick Pope won’t want to be backup in his peak years, Leeds United offer could be tempting
At 33, Pope is in his peak years as a goalkeeper and won’t want to be sitting behind Trafford in the pecking order indefinitely.
That is obviously going to be the case too, given that Trafford is going to cost upwards of £30million to get out of Burnley, and you don’t spend that much on a ‘keeper only to rotate them with their ‘competition’.
Pope will surely see this Trafford saga as a way to remove him from a starting role, while Leeds are here offering him a chance to be a starter.