Leeds eyeing Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope | OneFootball

Leeds United are preparing for Karl Darlow to leave Elland Road this summer and are considering signing Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope (h/t Daily Mail).

Darlow played a key role for Leeds as the club secured their Premier League status for another season, keeping five clean sheets in 22 appearances.

However, his contract with the club is up this summer, prompting Leeds to enter the market for a replacement.

Pope kept seven clean sheets in 27 league appearances, but Newcastle want an upgrade.

Leeds have other options on their transfer shortlist, and there is no guarantee they will push hard to land the ‘outstanding‘ 34-year-old shot-stopper.

Pope is not the answer for Leeds

Pope would represent a short-term fix for Leeds rather than a solution for the future. Newcastle are willing to move on from him and with good reason.

Pope remains a capable shot-stopper, but his mobility and overall reliability have declined. His underlying numbers last season were among the weakest in the division.

Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez would be a better option. Despite occasional high-profile errors when playing out from the back, he is a strong goalkeeper.

Sanchez posted a respectable goals prevented figure of +1.70 last season and is still firmly in his prime years.

His experience, athleticism and potential resale value make him a far more logical investment for the Peacocks.

If Leeds are spending money on a new number one, they should be looking forward rather than backwards, and Sanchez fits that brief far better than Pope.