Leeds United are in talks with Sunderland over a stunning swap deal involving Andy Lonergan, according to Football Insider.
The football news site claim the north-east big hitters made contact with Leeds about the possibility of signing number two goalkeeper Lonergan.
Football Insider report that United, in turn, expressed an interest in a Sunderland player whose identity is, as yet, unknown and suggested a swap deal.
It is said that Sunderland are keen to sign experienced keeper Lonergan, 34, to solve their problematic goalkeeping position.
Lonergan has not featured for Leeds since the 4-1 defeat to Wolves in November and has been forced to watch from the sidelines as Felix Wiedwald regained his spot as the first choice in goal.
Good move for Leeds?
It all depends, of course, on the identity of the Sunderland player that Leeds have suggested in exchange for Lonergan. The keeper is certainly behind Wiedwald in the United pecking order after a seven-game run in the side when the German was dropped following a 3-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in October. Neither of Sunderland’s current keepers Robbin Ruiter and Jason Steele have looked the real deal and Chris Coleman is desperate for a new one as he struggles to stop his side dropping into the relegation trap door. His clear need could offer an exciting Leeds signing opportunity.
This Is Futbol rating 6/10
Likely to happen?
As the Alexis Sanchez-Henrikh Mkhitaryan deal showed this week, swap deals are all the rage again after years when they fell out of vogue, due, presumably due to the complexity of modern transfers. Given that the two clubs are in talks and Football Insider are a reliable source of Leeds news, don’t rule this one out, although such a deal is likely to go down to the wire.
This Is Futbol rating 5/10