Leeds United continued their impressive pre-season with a 2-0 victory over RB Leipzig at Elland Road on Saturday, giving Daniel Farke another positive result ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
The Whites have also made a statement with their summer recruitment. 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 by signing James Trafford from Manchester City for £45m, with the England international expected to start the season as Farke’s first-choice goalkeeper.
However, Leeds still need to strengthen their goalkeeping department. With Lucas Perri closing in on a loan move to Torino with an option to buy, the club will need to bring in another goalkeeper to provide cover for Trafford.
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Leeds United goalkeeper told his position at current club
Nick Pope has been on Leeds United’s radar for months, and he has been heavily linked with a move to Elland Road this summer.
Trafford’s arrival does not shut the door on the veteran goalkeeper joining Leeds, as the club still need a number 2 for the upcoming season.
And it seems Newcastle are preparing to offload him, as Pope was left out of the Newcastle squad that beat Valencia 2-1 in a pre-season game on Saturday evening.
The Magpies have signed two goalkeepers this summer, and new manager Matthias Jaissle has insisted that he wanted the new signings to get game time.
He revealed that he had honest conversations with the veteran goalkeeper about his place at the club, indicating that he may need to leave to play any football next season.
Jaissle told reporters after the game: “I had a talk with Nick, and he knows exactly the situation right now. We need to deal with it in the best possible way.
“But I appreciate the human being, and I respect what he’s done in his career.
“I wanted to give the new signing 90 mins.”
Nick Pope would be a solid number 2
The 34-year-old goalkeeper may have been an underwhelming target earlier in the window, when Leeds were looking to bring in a first-choice goalkeeper.
However, as a potential number 2 to James Trafford, Nick Pope would be a viable target and a solid option to have for Daniel Farke.
With the Newcastle boss making it clear that Pope would now be the third choice, the club are in no position to demand a significant fee for him.
A move to Leeds could also become a more palatable option for the veteran goalkeeper as he would be number 2 to the future England number 1 rather than remain third choice at Newcastle.
Karl Darlow’s last two seasons at Leeds showed the value of having an experienced goalkeeper in your ranks if things do not go according to plan for the first-choice.
If on a free and reduced wages, he’s on a retirement dive now!