LEEDS UNITED are keen on Newcastle’s Nick Pope after missing out on Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher.
Daniel Farke and Elland Road chiefs are already at work in their quest to strengthen following the Championship-winning promotion campaign.
And a new goalkeeper has emerged as one of their top priorities given Illan Meslier’s drop in form at the back end of last season.
They enquired about Irish ace Kelleher, 26, but he is poised to join Brentford for £18m.
Now Leeds could turn to Pope, 33, and are one of several teams monitoring his situation at St James’ Park.
The England international finished the season as Eddie Howe’s No.1 but Newcastle are expected to finally end their long pursuit of Burnley’s James Trafford over the coming weeks.
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His arrival could result in Pope heading elsewhere with a switch to Elland Road among those potentially on the cards.
Pope, who won the Toon’s first trophy in 70 years this term, earned just 10 England caps before missing out on Euro 2024 through injury.
Trafford, who beat Pope to Thomas Tuchel’s latest England squad, had agreed to join Newcastle last August only for the deal not to happen.
The 22-year-old played a key role in Burnley’s promotion to the Premier League, keeping an impressive 29 clean sheets in 45 appearances.
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Meanwhile, Newcastle have checked on 19-year old Rennes centre back Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal who has starred for Morocco U20s.
Boudlal is yet to make his senior debut for Rennes and spent the second half of the season on loan at Ligue 2 Amiens.
Howe’s side are also interested in Crystal Palace centre back Marc Guehi and Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo.
Leeds will face AC Milan in Dublin in a pre-season friendly on August 9.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
