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Exclusive: Leeds set sights on signing Newcastle player to replace first-team star
EXCLUSIVE By Pete O’Rourke
Leeds United have set their sights on signing Newcastle United goalkeeper Karl Darlow if they can offload Kiko Casilla this summer, Football Insider sources understands.
As revealed by Football Insider yesterday, Leeds are looking for a buyer for Casilla this window as they prepare for him to move on just six months after signing him from Real Madrid.
A Leeds source has told Football Insider that manager Marcelo Bielsa and director of football Victor Orta have drawn up a shortlist of goalkeeping targets and Darlow’s name features highly in it.
The 28-year-old almost made the move to Elland Road in January prior to Casilla’s arrival but a deal could not be agreed between Leeds and Newcastle.
Darlow is well down the pecking order at Newcastle and he did not figure at all in the Premier League last season.
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His only action came in the Carabao Cup against former club Nottingham Forest back in August.
Darlow is entering the final year of his contract at St James’ Park and Newcastle could decide to cash-in on Darlow this summer rather than risk allowing him to run down his contract and leave for nothing.
No decision will be made on Darlow’s future until Newcastle appoint their new manager, with Steve Bruce expected to be named as Rafa Benitez’s successor.
The new manager has the chance to assess the squad at his disposal before deciding which fringe players can be sold before the window shuts.
In other Leeds United news, it can be REVEALED that Marcelo Bielsa is planning to omit star players from his squad for the tour of Australia.