‘Leeds will sign Nick Pope after £40m deal is agreed’
Leeds United could agree a deal to sign Nick Pope if Newcastle United complete their pursuit of James Trafford.
Last week (11 July), Football Insider exclusively revealed that Newcastle were prepared to bid close to £40million for Trafford, after Burnley rejected their original offer of £27m.
If the 22-year-old does end up making the switch to St James’ Park, then he will be vying with current shot-stopper Pope for the number one spot.
The Magpies keeper has been on Tyneside since the summer of 2022, but may not want to sit on the bench at the age of 33.
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that Pope will make the move to Elland Road if the Trafford deal goes through.
‘Trafford move to Newcastle will start domino effect’
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted that if Newcastle sign Trafford, it will start a domino effect that would see Pope end up at Leeds.
Daniel Farke’s side are aiming to become the first promoted team in three years to avoid immediate relegation from the Premier League.
Wyness believes that Pope could help them do that, and that he would be “a good signing” for Leeds.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I think that’s a domino deal and there’s many of them that one has to move before the other, and then the whole thing falls into place.
“I think once that Trafford situation is either done or not, and that’s a very expensive deal as well, the Trafford deal at £40m, then the Pope deal will go forward. But I think that would be a good signing for Leeds as well.”
Everton could move for Leeds winger
Meanwhile, Everton could reignite their interest in signing Leeds United winger Jack Harrison despite opting against a permanent deal when his loan spell ended, sources have told Football Insider.
David Moyes is “desperate” to strengthen his team out wide this summer after losing both Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom when their loan deals expired.
Former West Ham scout and Moyes ally Mick Brown told Football Insider in March that Moyes did not rate Harrison as part of his plans for the future at Everton.
However, if they fail in their pursuit of other key targets for the position, the Leeds man remains on the list of options at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
After two seasons on loan at Everton, Harrison is believed to have burnt his bridges at Leeds, and is now keen to make a permanent move away.
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