According to Tim Thornton, Leeds United are expected to complete the acquisition of Newcastle United goalkeeper Karl Darlow this weekend.
Thornton, a senior Sky Sports reporter, tweeted on July 29 that Leeds are expected to complete the Darlow agreement within the next 24 hours, with the ‘keeper joining the Yorkshire club on a three-year deal.
Darlow will join Leeds with the intention of becoming the club’s number one goalkeeper for the forthcoming Championship season, however uncertainties about Illan Meslier’s future may mean there is more competition than expected in the Elland Road net.
An important deal
The signing of Darlow is one deal that Leeds have been looking to get done for weeks, with talks having accelerated following the official confirmation of 49ers Enterprises’ takeover of the club.
The Yorkshire side faced competition from Premier League Bournemouth, although they remained positive and unconcerned, with Leeds being Darlow’s preferred destination. Bournemouth eventually decided to pursue another target in Inter Milan goalkeeper Andrei Radu.
This will be an important deal for the club as they look to strengthen all over the pitch this summer to give them the best possible chance of bouncing straight back up to the Premier League.
Meslier’s future may cause a headache for those in charge at Leeds United, with a £20m price tag reportedly set on the Frenchman, there is little interest in his services as things stand, which may lead to a battle for the number one spot.
Darlow joins with plenty of experience of Championship football, and coming off the back of an impressive loan spell in the English second division, while he would’ve been a backup to Nick Pope at Newcastle.
