Leeds United and Torino transfer stance on Lucas Perri with future unclear

Leeds United are clear that they will not consider allowing Lucas Perri to leave before a new goalkeeper is acquired first.

The exit of Karl Darlow, who has joined Manchester United, means United are short on options in goal. Reserve choice Alex Cairns, who recently signed a renewal but has yet to play two years into his Leeds return, stands as the only senior back-up to Perri at present.

As a result, Leeds are naturally staunch on not permitting Perri - who was dropped as No.1 in January, six months after his £13.9million arrival from Lyon - to depart in any capacity for now.

Torino are interested in Perri and are monitoring the situation at Elland Road, Leeds Live understands.

They are meanwhile also keeping tabs on Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale as well as Fenerbahce and Croatia shot-stopper Dominik Livakovic. Perri is thought to be among their top targets.

Sources close to the situation at Torino state the club would seek a loan with an option or obligation to buy. There have been intimations, if not direct confirmation, that the Serie A club have already reached out to Perri’s representatives.

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In a recent press conference, Torino sporting chief Gianluca Petrachi claimed that "there's a goalkeeper who wants to join us" but would not "name names". Italian media purported this to be Perri, a suggestion which has been supported by a contact with direct connections to Petrachi.

Perri’s representatives have refrained from commenting on whether Torino have made contact. Amid the current context, they frame their client as ready to compete for the starting spot at Leeds with any new goalkeeper.

United have a long list of keeper transfer interests, with Zion Suzuki among them albeit no advancement towards the Japan and Parma goalkeeper has been made. Manchester City's James Trafford is another thought to be on the list, but has many admirers.

Perri lost his starting spot following two errors in the space of four days during the first week of January, with Daniel Farke publicly criticising the goalkeeper for coming off his line too early for Manchester United's equaliser in a 1-1 draw and failing to keep out Harvey Barnes' stoppage-time winner in a 4-3 defeat at Newcastle United.

The Brazilian went on to play an important role in Leeds' run to the FA Cup semi-finals, making a number of impressive in-game saves against Birmingham City (fourth round) and West Ham United (quarter-finals) before saving spot kicks in each subsequent shoot-out.

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