Leeds United looking to strike surprise reunion with League Two player | OneFootball

Alex Cairns graduated from Leeds United's academy system as a youngster.

The 31-year-old graduated from Leeds' academy system back in 2011, but only went on to make one first team appearance for the club in a 5-0 defeat to Blackpool that same year.

Cairns has been plying his trade for Salford City in League Two for the past two seasons, with the former Hartlepool United and Fleetwood Town shot-stopper cementing himself as the Ammies' first-choice option between the sticks last season.

But the experienced goalkeeper has just 12 months remaining on his deal with Salford, and now looks set for a reunion with the club that handed him his first chance in professional football over a decade ago.

According to Football Insider, Leeds are making a move to bring Cairns back to Elland Road, and are lining up a formal offer for the Salford number one goalkeeper.

With EFL regulations surrounding the number of homegrown players that must be registered in each Championship club (eight), the signing of Cairns would help the Whites tick that box.

It is expected that the former Leeds man will arrive as Daniel Farke's third-choice option, behind long-standing number one Illan Meslier, and fellow experienced goalkeeper Karl Darlow.

Cairns may have a larger role than some may expect too, as current backup option Kristoffer Klaesson appears set to join Polish outfit Rakow Czestochowa on a permanent deal - Klaesson is also registered as a homegrown player.

After four years at Elland Road between 2011 and 2015, Cairns eventually called time on his spell with Leeds by moving to Chesterfield Town, before quickly departing for Rotherham United.

Making no appearances for either of those clubs, Cairns finally kick-started his professional career when he signed for Fleetwood Town in 2016, where he would go on to make 240 appearances for the club.

Following a brief spell with Hartlepool United in the 2022/23 season, Cairns moved to his latest club, Salford City, where he has gone on to make 77 appearances in all competitions for the fourth tier side.

Alex Cairns would be solid third-choice option for Leeds United

Making 51 appearances in all competitions for Salford last season, Cairns would arrive back at Elland Road as a goalkeeper who is fresh and ready to play a part whenever called upon.

Spending four years with the club, Cairns will know all about the size and expectations that come with wearing Leeds' famous badge on his chest.

But his arrival would make sense for a multitude of reasons. Whether that be for helping the club comply with homegrown registration rules, to providing another veteran for 24-year-old Meslier to learn from.

It's not out of the question that Cairns actually competes, and takes the number two gloves from Darlow either.

That's because although the former Hull City and Newcastle keeper may have the pedigree of playing at a higher level throughout the majority of his career than Cairns, Darlow has only made 25 appearances in club football since the beginning of the 2021/22 season.

As such, bringing in a goalkeeper who has just spent last season playing over 50 games as a number one option, could well see the League Two recruit gain the upper hand on Darlow.

Therefore, Cairns' signing may well be a more important one that it could appear to some, as he looks to return to Elland Road ready to have something close to the Leeds career he would have wished for all those years ago.