Leeds United are in search of a first-choice goalkeeper for the 2025/26 Premier League season, with the position of the utmost importance and Leeds United News sources have the latest.
Quite simply, having a reliable goalkeeper can save you goals and save you points. Last season, Leeds United had the inconsistent Illan Meslier lacking genuine confidence in his performances.
Daniel Farke eventually dropped the goalkeeper for Karl Darlow but they are looking for better this summer. The Whites want to ensure solidity and dependability in both boxes for the Premier League.
It won’t necessarily be cheap to acquire such quality in defence and attack, but it’s a necessity in the eyes of the club if they are to get to the points total that they have in mind for survival.
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty ImagesThe goalkeeper situation at Leeds United after Nick Pope and Djordje Petrovic blows
Nick Pope has been a top target for the 49ers but Pope was always likely to be a tough deal for Leeds to complete from Newcastle United. That has proven to be the case, as The Athletic’s Beren Cross put an end to any remaining Leeds links to Pope in recent updates.
🧤 Leeds United have shown interest in Nick Pope but the goalkeeper wants to stay at Newcastle.
🌑 With #NUFC in talks with Burnley over James Trafford there’s questions over Pope’s future at the club.
⚪️ But Newcastle want him to stay — and so does 33-year-old Pope himself,… pic.twitter.com/Ww1JT5vWSF— Keith Downie (@SkySports_Keith) July 8, 2025
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As shown above, Sky Sports’ Keith Downie has also confirmed Pope’s eagerness to remain on Tyneside. Newcastle won’t budge and Pope is content as second-choice next year.
Leeds were linked with Djordje Petrovic as a Pope alternative. Sunderland agreed a deal to sign Petrovic from Chelsea but that appears to have fallen through and he is now headed to AFC Bournemouth.
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The Petrovic fee perhaps put Leeds off and they will now have to look elsewhere after the update from Dominik Schneider, and Leeds United News sources have since confirmed the trio of primary options they are considering at the top of their shortlist in goal.
Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images1) Vanja Milinkovic-Savic
Initial reports emerged regarding Leeds’ interest in Torino goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic but nothing concrete until recent days where the Italian media have covered the potential transfer extensively.
It’s reported that Leeds have the advantage over Napoli in the race for the 28-year-old, while Torino are already eyeing Milinkovic-Savic replacements.
More recently, it’s been stated that Leeds are pushing hard to sign Milinkovic-Savic. Today, it was claimed that Leeds are insisting to sign Milinkovic-Savic. He is the club’s primary choice to plug the gap between the sticks.
2) Lucas Perri
Olympique Lyonnais’ Lucas Perri could be an exciting addition in goal and initial reports stated that Leeds are keen on Perri as a priority in a £12.8 million deal this summer.
However, a ‘concrete approach’ had not been made yet, with Monaco and Neom SC also said to be watching Perri. Others don’t expect Leeds to sign Perri, but there have been other developments since then.
An English club have stepped up interest in Perri, which is likely to be Leeds. However, he has been confirmed to Leeds United News as the second-choice. We also compared Milinkovic-Savic and Perri and the giant Serbian came out on top statistically.
3) Robin Zentner
Last, but certainly not least, is the impressive Robin Zentner. The 30-year-old plays for 1. FSV Mainz 05 and he has shone in recent seasons.
Interestingly, Zentner was suggested as an option instead of Pope in a recent piece outlining some alternative options both domestically and elsewhere in other major European leagues.
Zentner and Milinkovic-Savic have emerged as targets in recent days and it has since been confirmed that he is the back-up target as the cheapest of the trio.