Report: Leeds failed with bid for Southampton’s Fraser Forster

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Leeds United reportedly attempted to sign Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster before closing in on Jamal Blackman.

According to a report from the Daily Mail, Southampton’s Fraser Forster was one of the goalkeepers Leeds tried and failed to sign before closing in on a deal for Jamal Blackman.

Signing a new goalkeeper appears to have been one of Marcelo Bielsa’s top priorities this summer. Bailey Peacock-Farrell impressed during his run as number one last season, but Felix Wiedwald has been sold and Andy Lonergan has seen his contract torn up.

The Daily Mail suggests that Leeds are closing in on a loan deal for Blackman, potentially making him the second temporary signing from Chelsea following Lewis Baker’s arrival, but they have certainly considered several other options.

The Mail reports that Forster was one of the goalkeepers that Leeds tried to sign along with Angus Gunn – who has since joined Forster at St Mary’s and almost definitely pushed the former Celtic man down the pecking order ahead of next season – and David Stockdale. However, their move for Forster has not proved successful.

It is not clear what bid Leeds put on the table for Forster, but it does seem unlikely that the Saints would have had few qualms letting the 30-year-old leave with Gunn signed and Alex McCarthy recently signing a long-term contract after a fantastic run as number one last season.

The £10 million signing – fee reported by BBC Sport – has somewhat lost his way over the last couple of years. He had previously established himself as one of the most impressive stoppers in the Premier League, but has not been able to replicate that form in recent times.

Given that the Saints would have probably wanted to see a decent return on the money that the spent on him – or would have been looking for a sizeable contribution if Leeds were looking at a loan deal – it would have still been a gamble for the Whites to make something happen.

Blackman meanwhile, goes into next season off the back of a campaign in the Championship having been on loan with Sheffield United so it seems much easier to predict what Leeds are going to get from the 24-year-old than if they had rolled the dice and handed Forster a fresh challenge.