Credit: Imago

Declan Carr

Fri 10 April 2026 19:10, UK

Leeds United may have already decided whether Karl Darlow’s future is at Elland Road.

The Welsh goalkeeper is out of contract in the summer, and no agreement over fresh terms has been reached at the moment.

Darlow has emerged as the starter in LS11 recently, with 10 consecutive starts between the sticks for the Whites in the Premier League.

However, his place could be under threat, after Daniel Farke‘s side were linked with Manchester City’s James Trafford, in a report from Four Four Two on 10 April.

Leeds could move on from the former Newcastle man, if a deal for the 23-year-old can be reached.

Why Leeds may not extend Darlow’s deal

Leeds may not extend Darlow if their interest in Trafford comes to fruition, and they sign the England hopeful.

In fact, the report states that there is an expectation that the veteran will move when his deal expires in the summer.

That is despite the fact that he is clearly Farke’s number one choice at the moment, and Lucas Perri, who was signed from Lyon in the summer to be the starter, has not impressed.

Why letting Darlow go could be risky

Letting their current starting stopper depart to try to bring in Trafford may be a huge risk for the Whites, for two reasons.

For starters, the report claims that the Peacocks are unlikely to be the former Burnley man’s first-choice destination if City let him leave as expected.

The likes of Tottenham and Aston Villa have also been mooted as potential landing spots for the one-cap Three Lions man, and they could prove to be more attractive with the higher wages that they would be able to offer.

Also, it could take him a while to get up to speed, as he has featured just three times in the top-flight for Pep Guardiola’s side so far this season after the arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma.

It seems like a dangerous move for the Yorkshire side to let the Wales international leave, before the Citizens star or an alternative replacement is secured.

However, it appears like that is set to be the case, as the Thorp Arch side revamps their goalkeeping department.