Bailey Peacock-Farrell swapping Leeds for Burnley would be baffling

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Burnley are reportedly interested in signing Leeds United goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell.

Bailey Peacock-Farrell put Leeds on alert earlier in the summer when he suggested, in comments reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post, that he does not want to stay at Elland Road if he is not going to be first-choice under Marcelo Bielsa.

Peacock-Farrell had a mixed campaign last term. His spell as number one had a number of high points – most notably, the late penalty save against Reading – but he came in for criticism, and ultimately lost his place to Kiko Casilla when the Spaniard arrived in January.

With Casilla making a handful of costly errors in the latter stages of the season, Peacock-Farrell goes into this season with a real chance of becoming the first-choice once again, so his comments were somewhat understandable – even if they annoyed a number of Leeds fans.

And those comments are exactly why it would be extremely strange if the Northern Ireland international pushed for a move to Burnley, amid reports that the Clarets are interested in the youngster.

The Daily Mirror has claimed that Sean Dyche wants the Leeds stopper as Nick Pope’s understudy if Tom Heaton and Joe Hart leave this summer.

If Leeds are open to selling Peacock-Farrell, then of course, the chance to go and join a Premier League club should be tempting for the 22-year-old. But if Bielsa wants to keep the stopper, then he should have no hesitation in rejecting Burnley.

Pope is only a few years older than Peacock-Farrell so could be a stumbling block for a while yet. Meanwhile, Casilla has really opened the door for Peacock-Farrell to potentially regain his starting spot at Elland Road. Even if he remains second-choice, Casilla’s card should be marked after such a mixed start to life with Leeds.

If Peacock-Farrell does only get to choose between Leeds and Burnley this summer, then there is no reason for the youngster to consider a move. After the comments he made about game-time, it would be a baffling decision.