Leeds United desperately need a goalkeeper this summer.
The signing of Felix Wiedwald last summer sent Leeds United fans into a craze of excitement, after the German had previously starred as Bundesliga giants Werder Bremen’s number one.
The £500,000 capture of Wiedwald produced huge enthusiasm and optimism on the terraces at Elland Road, with the calibre of the goalkeeper stirring Leeds fans into an excited frenzy. Fast forward a year, and it is completely the opposite.
Indeed, 28-year-old Wiedwald has been near thrown on the scrapheap by the Yorkshire giants after failing to show the kind of form that saw Leeds land the former Frankfurt goalkeeper for a bargain fee.
Despite a decent start, the German quickly developed an error-prone reputation, which saw Andy Lonergan replace him, before Bailey Peacock-Farrell established himself as the club’s number one stopper.
Though Peacock-Farrell has impressed, he needs a goalkeeper capable of rivalling him for the number one jersey with Lonergan just as much at fault as Wiedwald for a number of errors this season.
Indeed, Leeds need a goalkeeper at the top of his game with experience in the Football League. It should see them put rivalry aside and consider Manchester United stopper Dean Henderson this summer.
At 21, Henderson would be the perfect rival to Peacock-Farrell with both players in the early stages of their careers. However, the United stopper would surely have the edge after starring in League One with Shrewsbury Town.
Making 48 appearances in all competitions, Henderson conceded just 39 goals and kept an incredible 19 clean sheets for Paul Hurst’s side as they came within a whisker of Championship promotion, losing in extra time in the Play-Off final.
Henderson confirmed that he would not be joining Shrewsbury on a permanent deal on Twitter, but the likelihood of him remaining at Old Trafford beyond the summer is slim with David De Gea and Sergio Romero will established.
Signing a goalkeeper such as Henderson who is currently at the top of his game will both give Leeds a goalkeeper who can establish himself as the club’s number one stopper for years to come, or indeed improve Peacock-Farrell.
He surely should be considered this summer by Paul Heckingbottom.
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