Leeds United transfer news: Karl Darlow could jet into UK to seal Bournemouth transfer, deal could be done in days
Leeds United have been deal a blow in their bid to sign Karl Darlow after Bournemouth advanced in negotiations with Newcastle, according to The Northern Echo.
Writing on their official website (20 July), the 32-year-old goalkeeper is currently in the US on tour with Newcastle but could be given permission to fly back to the UK to seal a deal.
Leeds are said to be interested in the former Hull goalkeeper, but negotiations have advanced with Bournemouth in the last 24 hours and the Cherries want to seal a deal in the “next few days”.
“Leeds United remain an interested party, but Bournemouth’s attempts to sign Darlow are now at a much more advanced stage and the south coast club would ideally like to wrap up a transfer in the next few days,” they wrote.
“The situation is complicated by Darlow’s presence in the US, but Eddie Howe will allow the keeper to return to England in order to finalise a move if the financial elements of a deal are agreed.”
Blow
Darlow was quite clearly one of the club’s top targets to come in as the number one goalkeeper this summer, but it now looks unlikely.
Bournemouth’s position in the Premier League was always going to help them convince him to join, and financially they are able to gazump whatever Leeds were going to offer.
But the player’s family being based in the north-east was said to be an advantage for the Whites, although it now seems that Leeds haven’t moved quickly enough.
With the new season only a few weeks away, not having the goalkeeper situation solved and settled is a big problem for Daniel Farke although it could mean that Illan Meslier ends up staying put.
Goalkeeper is obviously a super important position on the pitch, so the quicker it gets sorted the better for everyone involved. It now seems inevitable that it won’t be Darlow between the sticks though.
In other Leeds news, this is when Ethan Ampadu is due to make his debut for the Whites.