Leeds United stepped up their summer recruitment on Friday by completing the £34m signing of Tarik Muharemovic from Sassuolo.
The Bosnia international has been brought in to replace Pascal Struijk following his move to Brighton, giving Daniel Farke an immediate option at the heart of his defence.
Leeds have also strengthened their attack with the free signing of Harry Wilson, while adding a creative midfielder remains high on the club’s list of priorities ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
Attention has also turned to the goalkeeping department, where Leeds are now actively looking to recruit one, and potentially two, new keepers before the transfer window closes.
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49ers putting together the finances to land Leeds United’s dream target
Daniel Farke is worried about his goalkeeping target, following Karl Darlow’s departure to Manchester United, and wants to recruit a top-class keeper.
The Leeds boss has blocked Lucas Perri’s departure until a new goalkeeper is signed, and the 49ers are now pushing to back the manager in his pursuit of a number one.
Leeds are still pushing to understand the possibility of signing Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford in the ongoing summer transfer window.
Manchester City’s £40m asking price is a problem for Leeds, and it would make Trafford the club’s most expensive signing.
However, according to sources speaking exclusively to The Leeds Press, the 49ers are pushing hard to make the deal work as they believe Trafford would be a foundational signing.
Leeds believe they can make a deal financially viable by spreading the transfer fee over several years, reducing the immediate impact on the club’s finances.
The club have also created room in the budget through several departures, with more exits expected before the transfer window closes.
Away from football, a move to Elland Road would also suit James Trafford on a personal level. Several members of his immediate family live in Cumbria, while many of his closest friends are based around Manchester and Burnley, where he has spent most of his career.
Joining Leeds would allow him to stay close to those support networks rather than uprooting his life completely.
James Trafford will be the ideal signing, but Leeds will need one more goalkeeper
Leeds United were already planning to strengthen their goalkeeping options before Karl Darlow rejected a new contract and completed a free transfer to Manchester United.
Lucas Perri had been expected to leave Elland Road this summer, but Darlow’s departure has forced the club to rethink those plans.
Alex Cairns is not viewed as a viable Premier League option. The experienced goalkeeper is yet to make a senior appearance for Leeds and is currently considered the club’s third-choice keeper.
Even if Leeds succeed in landing their dream target, James Trafford, they will still need to recruit another goalkeeper before they can sanction Perri’s departure. That has made the Brazilian’s proposed move to Torino far more complicated than it first appeared.
Unless the Whites can bring in two new goalkeepers before the transfer window closes, Perri is expected to remain at Elland Road for at least another season.
