Leeds United have turned their attention towards planning their squad for next season after securing a 14th-place finish in the Premier League.
After successfully securing their Premier League place for another season, Leeds have now turned their attention towards strengthening the squad and making key additions during the summer transfer window.
Leeds are aiming to strengthen the squad this summer while remaining mindful of the financial realities of the Premier League, something chairman Paraag Marathe highlighted in his end-of-season open letter.
The club also have a few decisions to make on the futures of certain players, and Daniel Farke has a big decision to make on offering a new contract to a key player from this season.
Daniel Farke has a decision to make on Karl Darlow
Darlow was the steadier goalkeeper compared to Lucas Perri and became the first-choice option at Elland Road midway through the season.
He has not been flawless and was not great in the 3-0 defeat at West Ham last weekend. However, there is a feeling that he deserves an extension to his contract, which expires at the end of next month.
However, former Everton chief Keith Wyness has insisted that if Leeds were sure about the Welshman, they would have offered him a new deal by now.
He is not convinced that Leeds are happy with Darlow and believes Daniel Farke is having a tough time deciding whether he wants the goalkeeper at the club next season.
Wyness told Football Insider: “They’re signalling, obviously, that they’re not that happy with Darlow, and I think that it’s a key position, goalkeeper, and they’ve got to get this right.
“They’re going to have to move quickly either way, either give him the vote of confidence or try to bring in a new number one. But it’s difficult, having not really given him the vote of confidence.
“It’s a key issue. And I’m sure Daniel Farke has got sleepless nights about deciding on that because the keeper is a big thing for the Premier League going forward. And he’s been reasonably good with defence in the second half of the season.
“So it’s still a question mark. There’s a question mark with Darlow. They’re really not quite happy with him; otherwise, they’d have done it [offered him a new contract].
“It’s a tricky one. And I think Farke has got to decide quickly. Speed is going to have to be of the essence to get this out of the media as quickly as possible.”
Leeds are looking at goalkeepers
Leeds are almost certain to sign a new goalkeeper regardless of whether they decide to offer a new contract to Darlow in the coming days.
Several goalkeepers are believed to be on Leeds United’s radar, and the club are now being linked with a summer move for Lukas Hornicek of SC Braga
He kept 24 clean sheets in 55 appearances in all competitions this season and is expected to move on to bigger and better things in the upcoming transfer window.
Lucas Perri, who has not played a league game since the end of December, will likely leave the club after struggling to impress in his first season at Leeds.
