Leeds United are reportedly considering replacing Kiko Casilla this summer despite the goalkeeper only moving to Elland Road in January.
The Sun on Sunday (26/5; page 69) reported at the weekend that Leeds were considering potential replacements for Kiko Casilla, with the goalkeeper being linked with a return to Spain this summer.
Casilla’s move to Elland Road has, so far, not been a successful one, and it now appears that the play-off semi-final against Derby County may prove to be his final appearance for the Whites just a few months after he signed a long-term deal with the club.
Some will point to Casilla’s form as one of the reasons why Leeds squandered such a fantastic opportunity to get promoted. And when you consider some of the mistakes that he made, and the way that his mix up with Liam Cooper allowed Derby back into a semi-final that looked to be virtually in the bag, it is not difficult to see why some are happy to hear that the Spaniard may be leaving.
Bailey Peacock-Farrell’s decent form before Casilla’s arrival and potential leaves Marcelo Bielsa with an interesting decision, as it is not entirely clear whether he will look for a new number one or a backup to the Northern Ireland international if his teammate does leave.
But if the club decide that they want a marquee option, then they surely must consider a move for Southampton stopper Alex McCarthy in the hope that they can tempt the Saints to let him leave in some capacity.
McCarthy – who earns £50,000-a-week, according to Spotrac – has lost his place as first choice under Ralph Hasenhuttl and has a tough task on his hands trying to regain that spot from Angus Gunn. It would be a surprise if the 29-year-old was behind Fraser Forster in the pecking order, but Southampton may want to listen to offers if they are not expecting to be working with a substantial budget this summer.
Whether Leeds can make the kind of bid that tempts the Saints into considering letting McCarthy go remains to be seen. But if the Whites could get something done, it could prove to be one of the best pieces of business they do during the coming months.
The former Elland Road loanee went into his spell at St Mary’s having rarely been a number one anywhere during his career. But his form for Southampton saw him soon linked with moves to Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool in 2018 (via Daily Mirror), and he made his England debut in November.
It looks to be an ambitious move at this stage. But if Casilla is leaving this summer, then Leeds know how costly it could be to not get the right replacement in, so aiming for a player of McCarthy’s calibre should be the club’s starting point.
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