A transfer to Leeds United could suit top target Karl Darlow although Newcastle moved the goalposts at the eleventh hour on his summer switch to Middlesbrough, according to Adam Pope.
The BBC Radio Leeds journalist reported on Tuesday afternoon that United are interested in signing Darlow in the January window and that he should be fully fit by the end of the month after an elbow injury.
Pope explained that Newcastle were willing to sell Darlow during the summer window and he “almost joined Middlesbrough” until the Premier League club “decided they wanted more money” and increased the price tag to £5million.
Re keeper Karl Darlow: Newcastle were willing to let him go. Last summer he almost joined Middlesbrough – had talks, met the manager etc – before #nufc decided they wanted more money They were asking for more than £5m. #LUFC pic.twitter.com/YDeMXovxrc
— Adam Pope (@apopey) December 18, 2018
Darlow is currently injured and hasn't been in the squad for nearly a month now. It's an elbow problem but he should be fit before the end of the month.
His only appearance this season has been in the League Cup. #LUFC
— Adam Pope (@apopey) December 18, 2018
Darlow is 2nd-choice, at best, behind Martin Dubravka. A move in order to play regularly may well suit him.#nufc have England U21 international Freddie Woodman on the bench at the moment & Rob Elliot is also still at the club. Not a position they are short of cover for. #LUFC
— Adam Pope (@apopey) December 18, 2018
OPINION
Pope’s series of tweets on Leeds’ pursuit of Darlow only serves to emphasise the difficulty in signing a proven performer from a Premier League club. Middlesbrough tried to land him in the summer, but the deal collapsed at the last minute following some payment demands from the north-east giants that their rivals were unwilling to meet. This suggests it will not be all plain sailing for Leeds in their hopes of landing Darlow on what could be a loan-to-buy January deal. The 28-year-old is not a first-team regular – his only appearance this season has been in the League Cup – although before his recent elbow injury he was a regular in the matchday squad as deputy to established number one Martin Dubravka. This suggests there is a deal to be done, especially as rising star Freddie Woodman and Rob Elliot are fine back-ups in the goalkeeping ranks at St James’ Park. Leeds may need to bend over and offer such big guarantees to convince Newcastle of a loan deal rather than a permanent transfer.