Leeds United are closing in on the arrival of a seventh summer signing in the form of Lucas Perri from Lyon, with the Brazilian goalkeeper jetting to Leeds’ Germany training camp.
Adam Underwood has made it clear the type of signing he is going for. Players in the region of 26 to 28, over 6ft and available in the region of £10m and £20m. Perri ticks all the boxes for Underwood and Leeds.
Perri is 27, playing at the top level but before his prime. At a lofty 6ft 5in, Perri is another player signed that increases the average of the Leeds squad alongside Anton Stach, Jaka Bijol and Sebastiaan Bornauw.
Every signing so far is between 26 and 28, and even Gabriel Gudmundsson is tall at 5ft 11 – at least, for his position. Perri is on his way to Leeds as Underwood closes in on sorting one of three remaining priorities.
Reports suggested Perri would cost £20m, Leeds are paying less
A report from the Yorkshire Evening Post floated a £20m figure earlier this summer. But Lyon have been up and down, initially faced with the threat of relegation before successfully winning their appeal.
But the financial issues remain at Lyon, with the Ligue 1 club obviously needing to bring in cash. Leeds have taken advantage of that, with Perri on his way to complete a move to Elland Road this summer.
Fabrice Hawkins revealed the news that Leeds were signing Perri and in a follow-up post, confirmed that a fee was an initial £13m. Sky Sports say an overall package for Perri is £15.6m, a lot cheaper than thought.
Leeds will now have four goalkeepers, action is expected
All three current goalkeepers have contracts at Leeds until the summer of 2026. But only one is more than likely to remain at Leeds this summer, with Alex Cairns’ homegrown status expected to see him stay.
Illan Meslier on the other hand, will surely look for an exit following the news that Perri is joining Leeds. Phil Hay previously said Meslier is “done” at Leeds and like Cairns, his contract expires next summer.
An interesting one is Karl Darlow. Signed as back-up but now with a taste of being Leeds’ no.1, Darlow also has the Wales no.1 spot to hold onto ahead of the World Cup and may search for game time.
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