Leeds United might be getting ready to say goodbye to their number one goalkeeper, Illan Meslier.
The Frenchman was dropped from the starting eleven against Luton Town on Saturday, and now it looks like the club are planning for life without him.
Meslier only has one year left on his contract, and talks around his future have gone quiet.
That’s why the club are now looking at new options, especially if Leeds get promoted back to the Premier League.
Karl Darlow Steps In
In the 1-1 draw with Luton, it was veteran Karl Darlow who stepped up to start. He didn’t do much wrong, and fans seemed pleased with his calm performance.
But Darlow isn’t seen as the long-term answer. The club are now eyeing up two big names to come in this summer.
Nick Pope on Leeds’ Radar
The first name is Newcastle United’s top goalkeeper, Nick Pope.
He’s also an England international and has loads of experience playing at the highest level.
Pope is still first choice at Newcastle, but he’s entering the final year of his contract and could be available.
Reports say Leeds are watching him closely. Newcastle might be bringing in a new goalkeeper this summer, which could push Pope down the pecking order.
That might open the door for Leeds to make a move.
Pope earns around £100,000 a week, which is a big wage, but if Leeds go up to the Premier League, they’ll have the budget to make it work.
Leeds Also Looking at James Trafford
The second target is Burnley’s young shot-stopper, James Trafford. He’s had a brilliant season in the Championship, keeping 27 clean sheets in 39 games.
That’s an amazing record, and it shows he’s one of the best young keepers in the country.
But landing at Trafford won’t be easy. If Burnley get promoted again, it’ll be tough to convince him to leave.
Plus, Newcastle are also looking at him, which could make things even harder.
Still, if Burnley sell Trafford to Newcastle, it could make Nick Pope available for Leeds. That might end up working in the club’s favor.
Big Decisions Ahead
Leeds United have a big summer coming up. If they get promoted, they’ll have more money and better chances to sign top players.
Replacing Meslier with someone like Nick Pope or James Trafford would be a big step forward.
Fans will be watching closely to see what happens next. One thing’s for sure, changes are coming in the goalkeeper department at Elland Road.
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