Leeds United (Credit: Imago)
Leeds United have already signed Harry Wilson on a free transfer, and are close to finalising Sassuolo centre-back Tarik Muharemovic’s arrival in the coming hours.
The Whites have agreed a deal worth £34m with the Italian club, and will put the defender through a medical today after he jets into Leeds in the next few hours.
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Amid the euphoria of an impending second signing of the summer, a mini-crisis is brewing behind the scenes as a key player is now pushing for a transfer in the coming weeks.
Leeds are expecting to sell a few players following the departure of Isaac Schmidt, but one departure could trigger a major crisis in the Leeds squad this summer.
Read More: Exclusive – Leeds United make major £10m demand in talks to sell star signing
Leeds United crisis brewing as player pushes for transfer
Apart from their World Cup stars, the Leeds players returned for pre-season preparations earlier this week, but there is a problem in the squad that the Whites cannot afford to fester for too long.
Leeds didn’t anticipate Karl Darlow’s departure this summer, and the Welshman’s decision to join Manchester United came as a shock to many
This has left Leeds with Alex Cairns, who has yet to make a first-team appearance at Elland Road and Lucas Perri, who lost his place in the team last season, as the only two goalkeepers in the squad.
And Leeds’ goalkeeping situation could become even more complicated, with Football Insider reporting that Perri is pushing to leave Elland Road before the summer transfer window closes.
Torino have identified the goalkeeper as their top target, and the Brazilian has agreed personal terms with the Italian side.
Perri wants to play regular football next season and does not believe he is going to get that chance at Elland Road next season.
Leeds cannot afford to lose him right now without signing a new goalkeeper, and even then, it may not be enough to sanction his departure.
They will need two new goalkeepers if Lucas Perri has to leave
Leeds United were already in the market for a new goalkeeper before Karl Darlow rejected a new contract and completed a free transfer to Manchester United.
Lucas Perri had been expected to leave Elland Road this summer too, but Darlow’s exit has forced the club to rethink those plans.
Alex Cairns is unlikely to fill the gap, having yet to make a senior appearance for Leeds and currently viewed as little more than the club’s third-choice goalkeeper.
As a result, Leeds now need to bring in a replacement for Darlow as well as another goalkeeper before they can consider allowing Perri to leave.
That makes a quick exit for the Brazilian unlikely. Unless the Whites sign two new goalkeepers before the transfer window closes, Perri could still find himself staying at Elland Road for another season.