Leeds United are in the process of retooling their squad for the Premier League this summer. The defence and the midfield have been heavily reinforced, and a new goalkeeper has also been snapped up. The Whites are now looking to reshape their attack in the final three weeks of the transfer window.
Following the end of last season, when Leeds won the Championship and earned promotion to the Premier League, it was clear the Whites needed a new goalkeeper for the Premier League. They needed an upgrade between the sticks, and they got one in Brazilian goalkeeper Lucas Perri.
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Karl Darlow replaced Illan Meslier towards the end of last season after the French goalkeeper made a few costly errors, which threatened Leeds’ promotion hopes. The former Newcastle United shot-stopper provided some stability and helped the Whites get over the line.
The arrival of Perri as the new number one was expected to trigger the departure of a goalkeeper or two, but none of the shot-stoppers have yet to leave Elland Road with three weeks left in the transfer window.
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Leeds United goalkeeper Alex Cairns will not leave this summer
While the speculation surrounding Meslier has continued to dominate the headlines, there has been little talk about what could happen with Alex Cairns.
The 32-year-old goalkeeper joined Leeds last summer and was the third choice behind Meslier and Darlow last season.
He has dropped down the pecking order further since Perri’s arrival and is more or less the fourth-choice goalkeeper in the squad at the moment.
However, according to Leeds Live, Cairns has no plans to leave the Yorkshire giants in the ongoing summer transfer window.
He has 12 months left on his contract, and the goalkeeper is planning to see out his deal before leaving on a free transfer next year.
With Meslier likely to leave before the end of the window, Cairns is likely to be the third-choice goalkeeper at Leeds again in the upcoming season.
What is happening with Meslier?
Meslier also has 12 months left on his contract and has been widely expected to leave Leeds in the ongoing summer transfer window.
Perri’s arrival has been expected to trigger his departure, but with three weeks left in the window, the Frenchman is still at Elland Road.
In fact, he has been heavily involved during Leeds’ pre-season preparations, and Farke continued to use him while Perri was recovering from an injury.
The Brazilian will be the Leeds number one next season, and Meslier doesn’t have a way back into the team as things stand.
Leicester City are among the clubs who have been linked with an interest in him, but Leeds are yet to receive any concrete offers for the Frenchman this summer.
However, Leeds remain hopeful that they will find a buyer for the goalkeeper before the transfer window closes on 1st September.
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