Sky Sports pundit Stephen Warnock believes that Leeds United have acquired themselves a “good signing” after agreeing a deal to take goalkeeper Kiko Casilla from Real Madrid.
The 32-year-old joined the Whites on a long-term deal last week and is expected to become Marcelo Bielsa’s number one goalkeeper once he has adjusted to life in West Yorkshire.
Former Leeds left-back Warnock has been raving about his old club for snapping up Casilla, who so far is Bielsa’s only signing of the January transfer window.
“He’s one of those where pedigree is good, the club he’s coming in from is very good,” Warnock told Football League World.
He added: “He (Bielsa) obviously feels he needs a goalkeeper to get him over the line and he probably feels that this is the signing that helps Leeds over the line.
“It’s a big signing for them, I think he’s signed a four-and-a-half year deal, so it shows their intent to him.
“I think it’s a good signing for both parties.”
OPINION
Warnock is spot on about Casilla. The Spanish goalkeeper may not have played for Leeds last week in the 2-1 defeat to Stoke, but Bielsa clearly has plans to start him soon after letting him get the feel for English football in the Under-23s on Monday night. Casilla did concede two goals in a 3-2 win over Southampton’s Under-23s at Tadcaster, but that can happen sometimes and it is best for him to be scored against in those kinds of games than in the important ones. Bailey Peacock-Farrell has done well for Leeds and has been a joy to watch at times. However the 22-year-old is error prone. Casilla will more than likely replace the Northern Ireland international for the clash against Rotherham this weekend, but it’s definitely too soon to be writing him off. Peacock-Farrell will learn a lot by training alongside a player with Casilla’s experience. It might not be a bad idea to let him go out on loan somewhere else in the Championship next season so that his development doesn’t stall.