Leeds United are preparing to take on Manchester United on Wednesday, but plenty is happening behind the scenes as the club continue to work on their summer recruitment.
The Whites have already made a statement in the transfer market. Harry Wilson arrived on a free transfer before Leeds spent £34m to bring Tarik Muharemovic to Elland Road from Sassuolo.
They then broke their transfer record again last week, paying £45m to sign James Trafford from Manchester City. The England international is expected to walk straight into Farke’s side as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper when the new season begins.
However, Leeds still need to add another goalkeeper. With Lucas Perri closing in on a loan move to Torino with an option to buy, the Whites will need to bring in an experienced deputy to provide cover for Trafford.
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Leeds United know how much to pay for goalkeeper target
Leeds United are looking to bring in another goalkeeper this summer, with the new arrival expected to accept a back-up role behind James Trafford at Elland Road.
Newcastle United’s Nick Pope has been strongly linked with a move to Leeds and was recently left out of their squad for a pre-season friendly.
The Whites have also put together a shortlist of potential options, with Paraguay international Orlando Gill among the goalkeepers under consideration.
Leeds have already approached the 26-year-old, while San Lorenzo have made their valuation of the goalkeeper clear.
According to Tribuna, the Argentinian club are in no mood to sell him for anything less than his release clause.
Gill has a £6.8m release clause, and San Lorenzo have already knocked back an offer from Lille for a lower offer.
They are clear about their demands and want his full release clause paid before they would agree to let the goalkeeper leave this summer.
Nick Pope is a safer number 2 option than Orlando Gill
Gill’s red card at the weekend showed that he may not have the temperament for Leeds and is not the most reliable back-up option.
Nick Pope may not have been the ideal target when Leeds were looking for a new first-choice goalkeeper earlier in the summer. But with James Trafford now firmly in place, the Newcastle goalkeeper could be a very sensible option as his deputy.
Pope would bring plenty of Premier League experience and give Daniel Farke a dependable option if Trafford is unavailable or struggles for form. Newcastle’s decision to drop him to third choice should also weaken their position in any negotiations and make it harder for them to demand a big fee.
A move to Leeds could work well for Pope too. Rather than sitting third in the pecking order at Newcastle, he would have the opportunity to become Trafford’s understudy at Elland Road.
Karl Darlow’s last two seasons at Leeds showed just how valuable an experienced back-up goalkeeper can be when the first-choice option is unavailable or fails to convince.
Popes a bit too old