Leeds United have been linked with a free transfer for the Brighton and Hove Albion stopper.
According to a recent report from the Mirror, Leeds United are interested in signing goalkeeper David Stockdale this summer, with the 31-year-old coming to the end of his contract at Brighton & Hove Albion.
With Rob Green already signed on at Elland Road for another year, Stockdale’s arrival would see Leeds with two of the best and most experienced stoppers in the Championship, but it would also mean Bailey Peacock-Farrell is as far away from the senior side as ever.
Still only 20, the young Leeds ‘keeper is rated extremely highly at Elland Road and his time will come. But assuming Stockdale arrives, the youngster will know he has a lot of work to do to become second choice, let alone the club’s number one.
Few clubs have the bravery – or at times the desperation – to throw a young goalkeeper into the mix for the long haul, but when it works it can lead to outstanding careers.
Whatever happens further down the line, any move for Stockdale would see Peacock-Farrell needing to head out on loan to continue his development.
A year or two playing regular football elsewhere would allow the Leeds youngster to head back to the club ready to challenge whoever is between the sticks at the time.
But with just a year remaining on his current contract, he needs to see a path to the first-team, no matter how long it may be.
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