Saturday afternoon saw Illan Meslier dropped from Leeds United’s starting line-up for the first time in the Championship this season, and Leeds are considering options to replace him permanently.
Veteran stopper Karl Darlow stepped in and looked assured, even if he could do nothing about Luton’s goal inside the first 20 minutes. Dan James equalised and the score remained the same, ending 1-1.
But Meslier is about to enter the last 12 months of his contract and the feeling is that the Frenchman will be sold this summer. If promoted, Leeds will look to bring in a new goalkeeper in the coming months.
Plenty have already been linked with a move to Elland Road. Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher is one target, while Southampton and England star Aaron Ramsdale has a relegation release clause on the south coast.
Leeds now want Newcastle and England goalkeeper Nick Pope
According to The Sun’s Alan Nixon on his Patreon channel, Leeds have shortlisted Newcastle United star Nick Pope ahead of a possible summer move. Like Meslier, Pope is about to enter the last year of his deal.
But, Pope remains first choice for Newcastle under Eddie Howe even after a mid-season injury that kept him out of action for seven Premier League games, and sitting on the bench for three after becoming fit.
Nixon says £100k-a-week Pope is a target for Leeds with Eddie Howe’s side expected to invest in a new goalkeeper come the summer. Burnley’s James Trafford has been heavily linked with a move to The Toon.
Leeds also eyeing ambitious move to Burnley’s James Trafford
Against Leeds, Trafford has kept two clean sheets this season but Leeds are not the only ones. Indeed, Trafford has conceded just 12 goals in 39 Championship games – keeping a massive 27 clean sheets.
According to Nixon, Trafford is also on Leeds’ list. But if Burnley get promoted, it feels unlikely Leeds would be able to tempt him and would certainly need promotion themselves to pull a deal off.
Pope is likely to prove a lot cheaper than Trafford and if the latter does go to Newcastle, then it does open up the opportunity of a move to Elland Road for Pope. But this all depends on promotion.
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