Leeds United Eye Nick Pope as Goalkeeping Search Takes Shape
Leeds United are closing in on a move for Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope this summer, with the club now considered favourites to land him ahead of the new Premier League season.
The story starts with Lucas Perri. Leeds signed the Brazilian last summer with high hopes, but it simply hasn’t worked out. Perri lost his starting spot to Karl Darlow mid-season, and the club’s patience appears to have run out. According to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, Leeds are now expected to cash in on Perri for somewhere in the region of £10m to £12m, with those funds helping to finance the move for Pope.
Wyness, who now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs, was direct about it on Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast. “Leeds are favourites for Pope, but I think they’re going to have to sell Perri, who hasn’t been a great success,” he said. “If they can get £10m, that would be a good deal for them, and I think Pope would be the one to come in.”
It’s a significant pivot from where Leeds were just weeks ago. The club had initially considered keeping both Darlow and Perri as their goalkeeping options for next season, which would have freed up budget to strengthen elsewhere. That plan now looks far less certain. With Darlow’s own future at Elland Road unclear, Daniel Farke can’t afford to go into the new campaign without a reliable number one behind him.
Pope ticks a lot of boxes. He’s proven at the top level, has Premier League experience in abundance, and at this stage of his career, he’s looking for a club where he can play regularly. Newcastle’s pursuit of other goalkeeper options has opened the door, and Leeds look set to walk through it.
Wyness added that while Ipswich Town have also shown interest, he expects Pope to end up at Elland Road. “I do expect him to end up at Leeds. That would be a good one for them to get him in there. To me, that would be a strengthening in the position.”
It’s the kind of move that could quietly prove to be one of the best pieces of business Leeds do this window. Goalkeeping errors cost them points last season, and sorting that position out early gives Farke a platform to build everything else around.
The Perri situation does carry some awkwardness. Leeds paid good money for him not long ago, and selling at a potential loss is never ideal. But football clubs can’t afford to be sentimental when it isn’t working, and this one clearly isn’t.
If the Perri sale goes through at the expected fee, Leeds have the funds ready. The Pope deal is there to be done. Now it’s just a matter of getting it over the line.
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