David Stockdale
Perhaps Leeds United’s worst kept secret is that they need to sign a goalkeeper this summer. Leeds’ keeper Felix Wiedwald signed for Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt after just a season at Elland Road where he featured 30 times across all competitions.
The 28-year-old lost the starting position to Northern Ireland shot-stopper Bailey Peacock-Farrell and has decided to seek first-team action elsewhere. Wiedwald has signed a three-year deal with Frankfurt. The availability of Birmingham City’s keeper David Stockdale has caught the attention of Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa.
Stockdale, a boyhood Leeds United fan, has been deemed surplus to requirements by Garry Monk only one season after joining on a free transfer from Brighton & Hove Albion.
The 32-year-old has been a superb keeper in the Championship for several seasons now. His impressive displays earned him a place in the 2017 PFA Team of the Year, which saw him help Brighton to a runners-up position behind Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle United to promotion to the Premier League at the beginning of last season.
With manager Gary Monk keen on overhauling his goalkeeping department, Stockdale is available ahead of next season if the Whites can meet the Blues’ valuation and the keeper’s wage demands.
Last season, Stockdale kept 6 clean sheets in 36 Championship games, making a further three appearances in the FA Cup.
Stockdale has two years left on his Birmingham contract. Birmingham Mail reports that Leeds have shown an interest in the player. A bid has been tabled in that effect but the bid is short of Birmingham’s valuation of the player who has vast experience in the Championship.
Stockdale’s backup, 36-year-old former Manchester United keeper Tomasz Kuszczak, has also been allowed to leave St. Andrew’s after three years. Kuszczak, former Poland international, played 12 times for Birmingham last season, keeping 4 clean sheets.
Highly rated but inexperienced, Connal Trueman, who was named on the bench several times last season, will be targeting to establish himself in the first-team set-up next season.
Leeds need a proven keeper heading into next season, having conceded 53 goals last season. Having enjoyed a rollercoaster of a season, Birmingham only conceded 31 goals in the Championship last season. Stockdale will be hoping to repeat his impressive displays and help his hometown team have a crack at Premier League promotion, having done it before with Brighton.
Leeds will need to agree on a transfer fee with Birmingham and negotiate personal terms with the play for any rumours that have linked the 32-year-old Stockdale with the Whites to be true.
