Leeds wanted ‘outstanding’ player in 2022, now a free agent as quick Klaesson replacement eyed

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Leeds United waved goodbye to Kristoffer Klaesson on Sunday after three years at the club and The Whites are keen to bring in a quick replacement for the Norwegian.

The 23-year-old has left Leeds to join top-tier Polish side Rakow. Bought for £1m back in the summer of 2021 from Valerenga, the Norway U21 stopper managed just four appearances for Leeds in three years.

Three of those came under Daniel Farke, the other as a sub under Jesse Marsch in the 3-2 comeback win over Wolves during 2021-22. Illan Meslier’s red card at Preston saw Klaesson come in for three games.

But he was the club’s third-choice option and Leeds would not have stood in his way if he wanted to go, with Meslier and Karl Darlow ahead. He has left and Leeds are keen to bring in a replacement quickly.

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Leeds want quick replacement and 2022 target is a free agent

Leeds have only made one signing and that comes in the form of Joe Rodon, a permanent deal for a player that spent the 2023-24 campaign on loan at Elland Road. No new additions have been made, yet.

But Leeds want to bring in a quick replacement for Klaesson and given he will be a third-choice option, the chances are Leeds will be exploring the free agent market to avoid spending cash on a back-up.

Back in January 2022, Leeds wanted veteran Darren Randolph. The Athletic said West Ham blocked a move for the Ireland international, and Randolph has since been at Premier League side Bournemouth.

Randolph could be the ideal signing to replace stopper Klaesson

Now, 37-year-old Randolph is a free agent. He has been released by Bournemouth having failed to play a single game in two years, having managed just 10 games in the previous four years at West Ham.

While that might suggest he’s not good enough, it also indicates he is happy to simply sit on the bench and provide cover and with back-up goalkeepers, it is important to have someone happy to do that.

Randolph is a proven Premier League and Championship-level goalkeeper with huge experience both domestically and at National Team level. On a free, the “outstanding” veteran makes sense.