Manchester United wants to sign 35-year-old goalkeeper Karl Darlow from Leeds United this summer, but there’s a catch. The club needs to sell current backup Altay Bayindir before it can bring anyone new through the door.
The Darlow situation
Darlow is out of contract at Leeds this summer, making him available on a free transfer. The 35-year-old finished the 2025-26 campaign as Leeds’ first-choice goalkeeper, racking up 38 appearances across three seasons at Elland Road. He managed back-to-back Premier League clean sheets in March 2026, a stretch that apparently caught United’s attention.
Manchester United aren’t the only club circling. Everton and Leeds themselves have also offered to sign Darlow, creating a three-way competition for the veteran keeper.
United’s interest isn’t about finding their next number one. Senne Lammens holds that position and is expected to continue as the starter. Darlow would serve as experienced insurance, the kind of seasoned professional who can step in without the dressing room needing to hold its collective breath.
