Daniel Farke silenced many of his critics last season by guiding Leeds United to a comfortable 14th-place finish in their first campaign back in the Premier League.
The German is entering the final year of his current deal, but discussions over a new long-term contract are expected to be concluded in the coming weeks.
Farke has already made it clear that he wants the club to show greater ambition in the transfer market this summer. However, chairman Paraag Marathe has also emphasised the need to operate responsibly and remain within the Premier League’s financial regulations as Leeds plan for the next stage of their development.
The Leeds manager has been pushing to bring in a new goalkeeper as he lost faith in Lucas Perri midway through last season, and wants a new number one.
Lucas Perri could continue at Elland Road next season
Leeds signed Lucas Perri last summer as the solution for their goalkeeping woes, and he was expected to be the undisputed number one at Elland Road.
However, midway through the season, following big errors, Farke lost faith in the Brazilian, and Karl Darlow was the club’s number one for the second half of the campaign.
Darlow is expected to sign a new contract, and Leeds were expected to replace Lucas Perri with a new goalkeeper who could be their new number one in the future.
However, according to The Athletic, the club hierarchy are undecided on signing a new goalkeeper in the upcoming transfer window.
They are angling towards continuing with Darlow and Perri as their goalkeepers for next season, depending on the Welshman signing a new contract.
They could still sign a goalkeeper later in the transfer window. However, the club have not finalised whether to sign a shot-stopper this summer.
A compromise Farke didn’t really want
Lucas Perri’s performances last season showed that he is not good enough to be a number one goalkeeper at a Premier League club.
Karl Darlow was the steadier goalkeeper, and while he made some brilliant saves, he was not flawless and some of those failings were exposed on the final day against West Ham.
Farke wanted to bring in a new goalkeeper who could have replaced Perri and be the number one, while Darlow would have remained a reliable back-up.
However, now the Leeds boss would have to find a compromise if Perri and Darlow start the season as the Leeds goalkeepers. The Brazilian may not be too pleased to remain number 2, but there is no reason for Farke to drop Darlow.
A new goalkeeper would have solved the headache for Farke, but it seems the hierarchy are not looking to recruit one this summer.
Is this article factual or imaginary?
Let’s see how well this ages
Far too soon to ‘write-off’ Lukas Perri, imo. Allow Karl Darlow to leave, sign a replacement and let Perri and the new boy challenge for the shirt..