Leeds United Target £14m Goalkeeper Who Could Transform Their Season: Right Call For Daniel Farke? | OneFootball

Braga’s 6’5 goalkeeper Lukáš Horníček has been hogging the headlines across Europe with his performances this season, and Leeds United have now emerged as a genuine suitor for his signature, according to Portuguese outlet Bola na Rede. Daniel Farke has grown frustrated with his goalkeeping options at Elland Road over the past two seasons, with a new number one firmly established as a top summer priority.

Leeds United target a 23-year-old goalkeeper who kept 12 clean sheets in Portugal

Horníček’s numbers from the 2025/26 Liga Portugal campaign tell their own story. He conceded 32 goals and kept 12 clean sheets in 33 league appearances, posting a save percentage of 69.16% after stopping 74 of the 107 shots he faced. He prevented 2.67 goals above expectation in the league, which placed him among the very best in the Portuguese top flight. He also completed 78% of his total attempted passes, which showcases a composure on the ball that neither Karl Darlow nor Lucas Perri has consistently offered at Leeds.

Leeds United face a stubborn Braga and fierce competition

Braga are expected to play hardball in any talks to sell the goalkeeper this summer, with no negotiations currently taking place between the two clubs. Braga president António Salvador has already sanctioned the sale of Rodrigo Zalazar to Benfica, and the club now regard Horníček as a player they simply cannot afford to lose in the same window. Braga are instead focused on renewing his contract at the Municipal Stadium, reflecting how central he has become to their plans.

FC Porto and Benfica are both monitoring the situation, and if either club lose their first-choice goalkeeper this summer, they could move swiftly for Horníček. His inclusion in the Czech Republic’s preliminary squad for the 2026 World Cup adds further weight to his growing profile and will only push his market value, currently assessed at around €14 million, higher.

Should Leeds United commit to signing Horníček?

BRAGA, PORTUGAL – JANUARY 30: Lukas Hornicek of SC Braga in action during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Phase MD8 match between SC Braga and S.S. Lazio at Estadio Municipal de Braga on January 30, 2025 in Braga, Portugal. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)

This is the right call from Farke, and the reasoning is straightforward. Lucas Perri has saved just 56.7% of shots he faced this season, placing him in the bottom 8.8% of Premier League goalkeepers. That is not a small problem; it is a structural one that costs Leeds United points every month. Horníček represents a meaningful, evidence-based upgrade rather than a speculative punt.

The concern, though, is timing and ambition. Braga are stalling, Porto and Benfica are watching, and a World Cup looms that will inflate his price further. Leeds United must decide quickly whether to place a serious bid or redirect resources elsewhere. Dithering at this stage, something Leeds have done before in transfer windows, could cost them a goalkeeper who genuinely fits what Farke wants to build at Elland Road.