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da fezbet： Leeds United are being linked with a myriad of goalkeepers of late, with Real Madrid’s Kiko Casilla said to be joining, Arsenal’s Emiliano Martinez tipped for a loan deal and Southampton’s Fraser Forster now emerging as a contender, according to the Daily Star.
It’s being said that a deal for the Saints shot-stopper is hoped to go through by the end of the week, as Marcelo Bielsa wants to bring in competition for Bailey Peacock-Farrell and sees the out-of-favour Premier League star as the answer.
Forster has not featured at St Mary’s Stadium since Boxing Day 2017 when he conceded five to Tottenham Hotspur, but before that built a reputation for being a brick wall between the posts and earned six England international appearances as a result.
In fact, the 30-year-old has kept 45 clean sheets in 124 games for Southampton, building on 101 in 197 at Celtic, but shutouts is not all that he would bring to Elland Road. Let Football FanCast assess the potential consequences for you…
Pl>ymaker FC’s Thogden was at the crucial relegation 6-pointer between Bolton and Rotherham. Check out the video below…
Kiko Casilla chase over
If Fraser is the man tasked with coming in and offering Peacock-Farrell competition in goal, after Bielsa publically stated he was continuing with the 22-year-old due to a lack of alternatives, it would be extremely unlikely Real Madrid’s third choice goalie Casilla is also signed during the same window.
Both would be as match-fit as each other as neither have featured so far this season, and both would demand sizeable wages – despite a lack of minutes, Fraser is Southampton’s joint-third highest earner at £70,000 a week.
Promotion secured
Despite losing Bielsa’s faith part-way through the season, Peacock-Farrell has still clawed his way to ten clean sheets in 26 games, the second most in the Championship.
Luring Fraser to Elland Road, and the 30-year-old retaining his previous impressive form, will then surely secure promotion back into the top flight as the likely second tier champions, with the Whites already holding a four-point lead over second-placed Sheffield United.
Sacrificing Peacock-Farrell’s development
While signing an experienced ‘keeper may secure promotion, it will have implications on Peacock-Farrell’s development.
As the first-choice goalie for much of the season, the 22-year-old has been able to iron out the mistakes that crept into his game and achieve his ten clean sheets, but as the backup he will be forced to watch on as someone else takes the praise.
The 6 foot 7 Southampton man will be able to pass on his pearls of wisdom on the training ground, but the understudy role will be a tough pill to swallow and stunt the progress being made.