Why Orjan Nyland is the perfect back-up to James Trafford as Leeds want double goalkeeper arrival
Orjan Nyland could be the perfect deputy to James Trafford at Leeds United for many reasons.
The Whites are closing in on the signing of what will be the fourth-most expensive deal for a goalkeeper in history.
It's said that Leeds will pay Manchester City around £40million for Trafford, with an additional £5m in add-ons included in the deal.
The 23-year-old is poised to earn £130,000 per week on a long-term contract at Elland Road, with a full agreement nearing.
Trafford's impending arrival will allow Lucas Perri to leave and join Serie A side Torino on a season-long loan, where the Italian outfit will have an option to make the move permanent
But with Perri's exit set to be sanctioned, Leeds will need to sign another goalkeeper, and that could be Nyland.
Why Orjan Nyland works perfectly after James Trafford deal
MOT Leeds News understands that Daniel Farke's side hold an interest in Nyland, who recently left Sevilla upon the expiration of his contract.
The 35-year-old impressed with strong performances for Norway at this summer's World Cup, as his nation fell short to England in the quarter-final of the competition.
Paraag Marathe has admitted that the Whites will explore the free agent market once more, and after losing Karl Darlow on a free, they may not have to spend to get another shot-stopper through the door after Trafford.
The Man City keeper will clearly be the first-choice keeper, but the prospect of Nyland and Alex Cairns behind him makes total sense.
Nyland has Premier League experience and showed this summer that he still has qualities that would be appreciated in LS11, hence the recent interest.
Trafford could use Nyland and Cairns to lean on, and if he ever were to get injured, there would be plenty of worse options to depend on than the linked Norway international.
Leeds are prepared to sign another goalkeeper after Trafford, and Nyland would be an obvious choice.
Nyland's World Cup stats examined; is he still Premier League level?
Darlow was Leeds' second-choice keeper this time last year, and surprised everyone to become Farke's preferred number one.
That wouldn't be the case with Nyland if Trafford signed, but other issues could see the former be relied on in certain cases.
If Leeds were to sign Nyland, his 6.90 FotMob score at the World Cup proves he's still got desirable and consistent qualities that would serve him well in the Premier League.
He prevented 0.74 goals on the grandest stage of them all, and for somebody who is free, has experience, and perhaps on the same level as Darlow in lots of ways, it just seems a no-brainer for Marathe and Co.