Leeds consider World Cup Goalkeeper As Zetterer alternative

Leeds United consider a move to sign DR Congo World Cup goalkeeper Matthieu Epolo as a Zetterer alternative after Karl Darlow’s departure to Manchester United left a clear gap behind James Trafford, whose £40 million arrival from Manchester City has already made him the first‑choice keeper.

Lucas Perri has been the understudy to Trafford this season, but reports suggest a loan exit to Serie A side Torino is imminent, leaving Leeds with only former Fleetwood Town man Alex Cairns as a second‑choice option.

Goalkeeper Options Explored

Epolo, a 21‑year‑old who featured for the DR Congo squad at the World Cup, is available for around £7 million as Standard Liege look to cash in on their homegrown talent. Marseille and Toulouse have shown interest, but Leeds are now described as a serious option.

Michael Zetterer, 31, is on the verge of completing a medical with Leeds after Eintracht Frankfurt agreed to the deal. The German has Bundesliga, Eredivisie and Champions League experience, and Frankfurt have already secured a loan for Noah Atubolu from Freiburg.

Leeds officially book Zetterer to fill goalkeeping gap

Decision Factors and Next Steps

Leeds must choose between Epolo’s rising potential and Zetterer’s seasoned reliability. While Epolo offers a future‑focused investment, Zetterer provides an immediate, experienced backup who could mentor Trafford.

The club’s next steps include finalising Epolo’s medical if pursued, confirming Zetterer’s terms, and monitoring the loan situation with Atubolu. Any delay could see the Whites miss out on a crucial squad reinforcement before the season progresses.

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Toby Bryant, a senior sports journalist, has been with GiveMeSport since July 2026. He previously wrote for LondonWorld, covering Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and West Ham. Bryant also worked as a Sports Lifestyle Writer for Iconic Media, contributing to the , Daily , FantasyFootballScout, FourFourTwo Magazine, Metro and the Irish Times. He graduated from Brighton and Newcastle universities, and his bylines appear in Us, Try, Give and Football sections, where he often reports on Move, Sign and Goalkeeper stories. The article was published at PM GMT+1.