Why Leeds United need to revive their interest in Kristoffer Klaesson
According to Dagsavisen (h/t Leeds Live), Leeds United had tried to sign Norwegian talent Kristoffer Klaesson from Valerenga earlier this season.
The report claims that the Championship side had shown strong interest in the 19-year-old shot-stopper. However, no deal materialised between both parties. Teenager Klaesson has established himself as the No.1 goalkeeper at the Oslo-based club after his breakthrough for the senior side last season.
He featured in 12 of their league games last term and has now maintained that position for the start of the new season, with two appearances already. To date, Klaesson has played 15 matches across all competitions for Valerenga and has three clean sheets to his name.
Meanwhile, Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United have enjoyed a successful spell in the Championship this season. An excellent defensive display from the Whites has seen the side concede just 32 goals from 39 league games.
Signing Klaesson a safe option for Leeds United
Bielsa owes it all to his side’s goalkeepers Kiko Casilla and Illan Meslier for their excellent displays between the sticks that have seen them emerge as the side with the best defensive record in the league.
No other side has conceded fewer goals and Leeds are now on the verge of an almost certain promotion to the Premier League next season. However, they face a major problem, with Casilla’s long-term future at Elland Road remaining uncertain as of now.
Casilla, who has been Leeds’ first-choice man in goal had been in sensational form, keeping 15 clean sheets in 35 league appearances before receiving an 8-game ban. The former Real Madrid keeper was accused of racially abusing Charlton Athletic forward Jonathan Leko back in September.
This opened the door for Leeds’ back-up keeper Meslier, who is on loan at Elland Road until the end of this season. Though Meslier has impressed in Casilla’s absence with two clean sheets from three league games, he is expected to return to his parent club FC Lorient unless Leeds activate the option to buy him.
This leaves Bielsa’s side in a very precarious state ahead of next season if they earn promotion to the top-flight. They really need to bring in a good goalkeeper into the side. Meanwhile, Leeds also have teenage goalkeeper Elia Caprile, who arrived from Chievo Verona in the January transfer window.
However, he has not made a single senior appearance to date and Leeds’ signing Klaesson makes sense. Having established himself as Valerenga’s main goalkeeper, signing him seems like a safe move by the club.
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Verdict
Leeds United face a daunting task in the coming days, with the future of Casilla and Meslier still remaining uncertain. That said, bringing in a new face like Klaesson will only make them stronger next season. Moreover, he is still in his teens and could go one to become an excellent future signing for Leeds if both parties come to a mutual agreement.