A handful of Leeds United’s players have still not finished for the season with international duty ongoing and on Monday night, three key Leeds players were in action.
The season continues to go on for some Leeds players. For a couple, they may see it as an opportunity. A last chance to show Daniel Farke what they can do, before an influx of new signings arrive at the club.
Jaka Bijol and Habib Diarra look as if they have a real chance of joining the Yorkshire side this summer. Two players that will be expected to start, and that means two others will have to come out of the side.
Leeds are also likely to sign a new goalkeeper, and Karl Darlow may have seen Monday night as another chance to show Farke what he can do, especially considering it was against Belgium’s top-flight stars.
Welsh media criticise Karl Darlow after 4-3 thriller in Brussels
Since choosing to represent Wales, Darlow has become first choice under Craig Bellamy, who himself had remained unbeaten before going to Belgium in what was Wales’ toughest fixture of World Cup qualifying.
After 30 minutes, Wales were 3-0 down. Darlow could do little about Romelu Lukaku’s penalty or Youri Tielemans’ pile-driver, but he should have kept Jeremy Doku’s effort out. Wales, though, rallied to 3-3.
Channelling the spirit of the Euro 2016 quarter-final side in a re-match between the two, Wales scored through Harry Wilson, Sorba Thomas, and Brennan Johnson. But then, Kevin De Bruyne popped up.
A brave, somewhat harsh 4-3 defeat which shows how far Wales have come. But for Darlow, he will be very disappointed and Welsh media were critical. Y Clwb Pel Droed gave Darlow a rating of just 4/10.
They said Darlow should have saved Doku’s effort: “It was a tough night in goal for Darlow, he couldn’t do much about the home side’s first two goals, but it did feel like he could have done better with the third.”
What does the future hold for Karl Darlow this summer?
Had Darlow chosen not to represent Wales, the 34-year-old may have been happy to remain back-up at Leeds with the club expected to sell Illan Meslier and sign a new goalkeeper by the start of the season.
But with the 2026 World Cup looming and Darlow needing to be match fit – not only to perform, but to retain the jersey – an exit is possible. Especially with Darlow now in the final year of his Leeds contract.
There is every chance that Meslier and Darlow both leave Elland Road in the coming weeks and months. But as far as interest in Darlow goes at the moment, nothing has been reported in the public domain.
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