Leeds United are reportedly doing battle with Premier League side Bournemouth for Newcastle United goalkeeper Karl Darlow this summer – but surely, the Toon ace is much better off moving to Elland Road, than to The Cherries.
Darlow, 32, has spent much of his nine years at Newcastle as the club’s second-choice goalkeeper. Indeed, he has only played 100 times for the Toon since his move to Tyneside in 2014 from Nottingham Forest. He needs a change.
He spent the second half of last season on loan at Hull in the Championship. Five clean sheets in 12 games, letting only 14 in – he impressed. Keith Downie says Bournemouth and Leeds are keen. Bids are expected to arrive ‘soon’.
It means Leeds will be rivalling Andoni Iraola for the £5m-rated stopper. But it would surely be in Darlow’s interest to join Leeds over Bournemouth – and that is due to the presence of a Brazilian at Bournemouth, in the form of Neto.
Newcastle’s Darlow better off moving to Leeds rather than Bournemouth
Bought from Barcelona last summer, Neto impressed between the sticks for the Cherries. The 33-year-old even wore the captain’s armband for Bournemouth at times, and has a contract with Iraola’s new side until June 2026.
He will no doubt be first choice. While Darlow would push Neto close to being first choice at the Vitality, it is more likely that Darlow would be back-up at Bournemouth. At Leeds, albeit in the second tier, he would be first choice.
Joel Robles is technically a free agent but has been invited back for pre-season. Illan Meslier is more than likely to depart this summer. Leeds need a goalkeeper, and might need two. Darlow would easily come in as first choice.
So, if both Leeds and Bournemouth are keen on signing Darlow, and the Toon ace needs to go – then a move to Yorkshire with Leeds is surely the best move over Bournemouth. He’d much rather be first choice, than back-up.
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