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Noel Törnqvist wants 'dream' English transfer after Leeds United transfer mission
Mjällby AIF goalkeeper Noel Törnqvist is keen on a move to English football after Leeds United scouted him in his native Sweden.
As reported by Swedish outfit Fotbollskanalen (19 October), the 21-year-old claimed the Premier League is his “dream destination”, but noted it would be important to stay at Mjällby AIF in the Swedish top-flight for guaranteed game time.
Törnqvist is Mjällby AIF’s first-choice goalkeeper and played all games but one in their run in the Swedish Cup in 2023, suffering a 4-1 loss to BK Hacken in the final.
Törnqvist said: “It’s probably the Premier League and English football. You always remember when you were smaller with Saturdays at 4 pm.
“You might have had a match of your own in the morning, then you met some friends and watched English football. So England is the dream destination.”
Potential
While Törnqvist has only had a short career, playing regular first-team football in a top-flight European league aged just 21 is impressive.
Allsvenskan is a relatively low-quality league, perhaps even compared to the Championship, but Törnqvist received international caps with Sweden’s under-21s, showing he can cut it with the best of his age group.
One point of contention with his comments is that he desired to play in the Premier League, but he firmly acknowledged the need for minutes, so any potential English move would be in the future.
Leeds may very well be in the top flight by then, but even now it would be unlikely that Törnqvist would reject a move to the English second division considering it provides a direct route to the Premier League. If Leeds were in the market for a goalkeeper, he could also be available for a relatively low price, and if he succeeds he could be sold at a huge profit.
The Swedish top-flight’s calendar does not align with that of the majority of Europe, with the 2022/23 season still ongoing with four matches left to play. Törnqvist’s side sit neatly in ninth place – nearly impossible to get relegated but miles from European qualification.
That being said, the club have only spent nine years of their 84 years of existence in the top flight, so mid-table safety is relatively massive.
He has received his plaudits and looks to be a very exciting goalkeeper prospect. While Illan Meslier remains at the club, Leeds probably won’t be in the market for young goalkeepers with high potential, but they have shown interest in the form of scouts so he is certainly on their radar.
In other Leeds United news, Real Betis may not be able to afford to make Marc Roca’s loan move permanent next summer