OPINION
Leeds United are in desperate need of a goalkeeper this summer and if Marcelo Bielsa was watching the World Cup on Wednesday night, he should know who he should be looking to move for.
South Korea stunned the world as they beat Germany 2-0 in Kazan, dumping the reigning world champions out at the group stages to allow Sweden and Mexico to gain qualification to the knockout rounds even though they had nothing but pride to play for.
It was a stunning display by the South Koreans, not least goalkeeper Cho Hyun-woo, whose masterclass between the sticks saw the Germans fail to find the back of the net in 90 minutes.
Some Leeds fans on Twitter were also impressed with Cho, 26, as he made save after save to deny Joachim Low’s side a chance to go ahead:
https://twitter.com/J_rido92/status/1012001988182269952
Sign this Korean goalie up! @lufc #lufc
— Paul haywood (@phaywood9) June 27, 2018
Leeds need to get the young lad Cho in. Had a great tournament. Get in on some of that Korean dosh. #LUFC
— Jibber Jabber (@EthanFromOnline) June 27, 2018
#LUFC need a keeper… ?
South Korea's Cho eyes dream England move https://t.co/n5AP6erxQI
— The Scratching Shed (@TSSLUFC) June 27, 2018
Sign up that Korean goalie
— (D??N) (@Hero_Dean) June 27, 2018
It’s no surprise that Leeds fans what 6ft 2in tall (transfermarkt) ace Cho signed, especially now that Felix Wiedwald has left Elland Road and Andy Lonergan’s form last season showed that he should also be forced out of the door.
That would leave Bailey Peacock-Farrell as the only first team goalkeeper at Leeds, so it’s definitely a move that Marcelo Bielsa and Victor Orta should look to push on with.
There’s a good chance that he would be available on a cut-price deal after his club side Daegu were relegated from the South Korean top-flight last season and he has told ESPN that one day he wants to play in England.
“I would like to play in Europe one day, and especially in England,” he said. “There you can face the best strikers in the world and really improve as a goalkeeper.”
Added on top of the fact that Cho is clearly a quality goalkeeper, the financial gains of signing a player from South Korea makes the move very worthwhile.
Manchester United and Tottenham fans dominate South Korea due to Ji-sung Park and Heung-min Son’s success in the Premier League, so maybe it is a move that Andrea Radrizzani should also look to force.
It’s bound to get very busy for Leeds soon but with Cho now on his way back home from Russia, Leeds should definitely be looking to make a move to sign him after his impressive World Cup performances.