Leeds United face goalkeeper priority as summer 2025 question lingers | OneFootball

Leeds United enter the summer with goalkeeper at the top of the agenda, last year’s unresolved question back on the table. Daniel Farke currently has only Lucas Perri as a senior option.

According to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, Alex Cairns has agreed to extend his stay, while Japan international Zion Suzuki and James Trafford are admired as potential additions.

The uncertainty dates back to Karl Darlow displacing Illan Meslier for the 2024/25 promotion run-in, after which an upgrade was expected for the Premier League. Leeds paid £16 million for Perri on a four-year deal, yet his first season proved difficult.

He struggled playing out from the back and seemed affected by Premier League pressure. After two saveable efforts beat him against Manchester United and Newcastle United in January, he was dropped, and his four later outings all came in the FA Cup.

Recruitment otherwise hit the mark, with Leeds overachieving on survival to finish 14th, though a right wing or No 10 profile and the goalkeeper slot remained open questions. Harry Wilson’s free transfer addresses the attacking need, but the situation in goal has grown more uncertain. Meslier departed for Arsenal, and Darlow is set to join Manchester United on a free.

With Darlow not re-signing, deferring a call on a new first-choice is no longer viable, making a goalkeeper an absolute priority. Suzuki and Trafford could cost £30 million or more, a significant outlay as the new Squad Cost Ratio tightens short-term spending. Whether Leeds invest heavily now to future-proof the position or postpone again remains to be seen, but it is set to be a summer of change between the posts.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk