Leeds United are firmly in the hunt to sign frozen-out Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton, according to the Mirror.
The newspaper claim on their live transfer blog (Monday, 2.07pm) that the Championship promotion hopefuls are battling with Huddersfield Town and Bristol City for the three-times England international ahead of January.
The Mirror report that Leeds have entered the race for Heaton after he lost his starting place at Burnley due to injury problems.
Good move for Leeds?
Yes, definitely. Heaton is a proven performer at Premier League and Championship level, where he was a key member of Burnley’s two promotion-winning sides of 2014 and 2016. With three England caps to his name, he would be a massive upgrade on current number one Bailey Peacock-Farrell and a brilliant replacement for Jamal Blackman, who has returned to Chelsea after breaking his leg last Friday. Heaton has made just three Burnley appearances this season – and not a single one since September – after loanee Joe Hart took over as the new number one. He would be a brilliant capture for Leeds.
This Is Futbol rating 9/10
Likely to happen?
It depends upon how ambitious Leeds are. A loan deal would certainly be more likely than a permanent one, given that Heaton has 18 months left on a contract that is likely to be outside of United’s price range. Are Leeds willing to pay most of Heaton’s wages for the rest of the season? Would Burnley sanction a temporary move? The situation of another of Burnley’s England’s keepers, Nick Pope, could also prove crucial to Leeds’ chances of being successful. One thing is certain: Heaton is interested in leaving and recently told the Mirror he has “got to keep my options open” due to his lack of game time at Turf Moor.
This Is Futbol rating 6/10