Daily Mirror journalist David Anderson has said that Leeds are not looking to sign Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon this summer.
The 41-year-old veteran has left PSG after just one season despite both sides having an option to extend his contract for another year.
A report from Italian outlet Corriere della Serra (via the Sun) had linked him with a move, but Anderson has claimed that not only are Leeds not looking to sign Buffon, they are not looking to sign a new goalkeeper at all.
Anderson made the claim on his personal Twitter page on Sunday.
From what I understand, Leeds are not trying to sign Italian legend Gianluigi Buffon who is a free agent after leaving PSG. Leeds have no plans to sign a goalkeeper at present. #LUFC
— David Anderson (@MirrorAnderson) June 23, 2019
OPINION
Leeds and Gianluigi Buffon seemed like an extremely unlikely mix. The club’s last move for a high-profile keeper didn’t work out so well, with Kiko Casilla struggling to settle in at Elland Road. The former Real Madrid keeper, who signed on a free in January, made a string of high-profile mistakes in the latter part of the season, including one in the play-off semi-final against Derby that let Frank Lampard’s side back into the tie. Casilla is reportedly on £30k-a-week at Leeds, making him the club’s biggest earner, and YEP journalist Phil Hay said his high wages might force the club to sell him. Given that, a move for Buffon who was on a reported £85k-a-week at PSG, makes no sense at all. What’s more interesting from the Anderson tweet is that Leeds have “no plans” to sign a new goalkeeper at the moment. That could indicate that Casilla is staying at Leeds, either because Marcelo Bielsa has faith in him or because they can’t find a club that is willing to come in and match his wages. Keeping Casilla – on Premier League-level wages – wouldn’t seem ideal from a Leeds’ perspective. They have a more-than-capable understudy in Bailey Peacock-Farrell and the £30k-a-week (plus any fee they could get for him) could be used to bring in one or two young Premier League players on loan.