Premier League experience looks like the main criterion for Leeds United when it comes to making new signings this summer, as The Whites look to learn from their wrongs of 2022.
The last time Leeds were involved in a summer transfer window prior to a Premier League campaign came ahead of the 2022-23 season. Victor Orta had rubber-stamped Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha’s exits.
The duo joined Man City and Barcelona for a combined £100m, leaving them with plenty of cash. Orta and Jesse Marsch chose to spend it on a few players, but players that had no Premier League experience.
Marc Roca, Brenden Aaronson, Luis Sinisterra, Tyler Adams and Rasmus Kristensen arrived that summer, not a minute of Premier League football between them. It played a big part in Leeds being relegated.
This summer, it seems different. They are trying to sign players with Premier League experience and one priority is a new goalkeeper. Right at the top of the list seems to be Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher.
Photo by Shaun Brooks – CameraSport via Getty ImagesCaoimhin Kelleher opens door to summer move amid Leeds links
The Ireland goalkeeper has been excellent for Liverpool as back-up to Alisson over the years. But with Liverpool already agreeing a deal for Giorgi Marmardashvilli, Kelleher is almost certainly set to leave.
Leeds want to sign Kelleher from Liverpool, with The Whites eyeing a £40m double deal for Kelleher and Konstantinos Tsimikas – £25m of which will go on Kelleher. On Sunday, he suggested he will leave.
Speaking to Optus Sport’s Tik Tok, Kelleher said he wants to be a club’s no.1 away from Liverpool: “I feel like I’m a number one and good enough to play week-in, week-out. And that’s what I’m looking to do.”
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Caoimhin Kelleher is one of nine goalkeepers linked with Leeds
A new shot-stopper is high on the agenda for Leeds with the expectation that Illan Meslier is now done at Elland Road. The Frenchman is set to enter the final year of his contract at Leeds and has been dropped.
Kelleher is among an impressive list of nine goalkeepers linked with Leeds. That shortlist also includes Aaron Ramsdale, Augsburg’s Finn Dahmen and most-recently, Bayern Munich stopper Daniel Peretz.
Certainly, Kelleher will be one of the more-expensive signings if Leeds were to land the Ireland ace. But he is a Premier League champion and has proven himself at this level – but at £25m, is he good business?