Leeds United have felt what it is like to be fighting for new signings with the big boys this weekend, as The Whites experience their first defeat in the transfer market.
A priority for Daniel Farke is a new goalkeeper having dropped Illan Meslier for the final seven games of the 2024-25 season. Karl Darlow replaced him, but a new no.1 is expected to arrive at Leeds this summer.
Indeed, Darlow is set to revert to being back-up goalkeeper behind a new signing – while the feeling is that Meslier has run his course at Elland Road. Phil Hay thinks Meslier is ‘done’ at Leeds and will depart.
Leeds have already been linked with nine new goalkeepers, four of which are England internationals. But they are set to miss out on another in the form of Caoimhin Kelleher, even if the Irishman is on his way.
Leeds fans react as Brentford strike Caoimhin Kelleher bargain
Kelleher has been a superb understudy to Alisson during his time at Liverpool, but on the Anfield pitch during the Premier League celebrations, Kelleher made it clear he would be leaving the club this summer.
Leeds are interested in Kelleher who has been rated at £25m, or even more. But on Sunday, Brentford made their move and are closing in on Kelleher with talks at an ‘advanced’ stage for the Liverpool ace.
Brentford are selling no.1 Mark Flekken to Leverkusen and have moved quickly to replace him with the Liverpool star. Interestingly, Sky Sports say Kelleher will cost just £12.5m initially, rising to an £18m fee.
Leeds fans cannot believe Brentford have managed to land the Irishman for such a cheap fee, even if Brentford do have a strong connection with The Reds. Supporters reacted to Kelleher’s move on X.
One supporter said “if they sign Kelleher for £12.5m” and “we sign Ramsdale for £30m” then the club deserves to go straight back down. Another of the nine-linked goalkeepers is Southampton’s stopper.
Another said, “I’d have offered £15m and then boom, he’s a Leeds player” while one was shocked at the size of the fee, saying “they tried to get £20m off us”. Another simply said, “that’s a steal for Brentford.”
“Cheap” was the description of another Leeds fan, who went on to say the deal, which may only rise to £18m based on a number of variables, is a “great deal for Brentford”. Leeds, it seems, have missed out.
Who could Leeds turn to with Kelleher moving to Brentford?
The other eight goalkeepers linked with Leeds include Ramsdale as mentioned above, as well as England internationals Nick Pope, Sam Johnstone and James Trafford. Both Pope and Trafford seem very unlikely.
Johnstone is more attainable but fans will likely be underwhelmed by his addition. Augsburg stopper Finn Dahmen looks very unlikely after signing a new contract. Djordje Petrovic may have a future at Chelsea.
River Plate veteran Conan Ledesma has been linked, but the most likely of the nine seems to be Bayern Munich’s reserve goalkeeper Daniel Peretz. With Manor Solomon an Israel teammate, a deal has a chance.
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