Could Stockdale’s Birmingham teammate Kuszczak be Leeds’ best option now?

Follow us on Google Discover

Leeds United looked to have failed in their reported pursuit of David Stockdale from Championship rivals Birmingham City.

Leeds United might be left frustrated in their pursuit of Birmingham City goalkeeper David Stockdale.

The Birmingham Mail reported this week that Leeds had made a bid for the 32-year-old shot-stopper, who has been told he can leave St Andrews by the former Whites boss Garry Monk just one year after arriving from Brighton.

This came a day after the Yorkshire Evening Post claimed that Leeds and Stockdale were far apart on wages. So, with negotiations with both Birmingham and the player himself progressing far from smoothly, Leeds might have to consider other options.

But they should not look too far.

Because the Birmingham Mail reports that Stockdale’s understudy, Tomasz Kuszczak, has also been told he is free to leave the Second City side. And if Leeds are looking for cheap shot-stoppers to add depth to their goalkeeping department after the exit of Felix Wiedwald, the former Manchester United goalkeeper fits the bill.

36-year-old Kuszczak has been a fine Championship goalkeeper over recent seasons during spells at Birmingham, Wolves and Brighton. And there is little doubt that he would represent an upgrade on Leeds’ current veteran glovesman, the error-prone Andy Lonergan.

Obviously Kuszczak would not need to be Leeds’ first-choice goalkeeping target, that is still Angus Gunn according to the YEP, but he would be a fine alternative to his Birmingham City sparring partner.

He could be a little cheaper, too.