Sky Sports journalist Keith Downie has reported on Twitter that Leeds United will only pay a bargain fee of just £400,000 to sign Newcastle United goalkeeper Karl Darlow this summer – amid previous reports of a £5m price tag.
Darlow, 32, is set for a move to Leeds. It comes after both Bournemouth and Leeds were looking to sign the Toon stopper, who impressed on loan at Hull in the Championship last year. He played 12 times, keeping five clean sheets.
But Bournemouth have chosen to sign Romanian stopper Andrei Radu from Inter Milan, and that has allowed Leeds to make a move for Darlow. Previous reports suggested that Leeds, or any other side, would have to pay a £5m fee.
However, Downie hinted earlier this week that a fee would be nowhere near the £5m figure previously suggested for Darlow. Now, he has reported that Darlow will travel to Leeds for a medical this week – and a fee is a tiny £400,000.
Downie: Leeds will only pay £400k fee for Newcastle goalkeeper Darlow
What a bit of business this is. To get a player such as Darlow, of his quality, for less than half a million quid. Superb. Yes, he is 32, but he still had two years left on his contract at Newcastle. And, 32 is nothing for a goalkeeper, really.
So, Leeds are making a real saving in the form of Darlow. Illan Meslier is more than likely to go, now. Leeds are yet to get an offer for the Frenchman and Graham Smyth says Daniel Farke likes our current no.1 – but surely he has to go.
Darlow will not be dropping into the second tier to play second fiddle, and Meslier will not be happy warming the bench. Something has to give and it might be that Leeds reduce the asking price placed on Meslier, after Darlow.
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