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Report: Leeds could replace Bielsa mainstay with 1x UCL winner as PL outcast tipped for summer move

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Image for Report: Leeds could replace Bielsa mainstay with 1x UCL winner as PL outcast tipped for summer move

Leeds United could look to replace Kiko Casilla with the capture of Manchester City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo in the summer, according to En Cancha.

Bravo is expected to hit the market when the transfer window re-opens this summer, having found himself playing second fiddle to Ederson at the Etihad Stadium since the Brazilian’s arrival in 2017.

Manager Pep Guardiola has only called on Bravo to feature in seven Premier League fixtures since luring Ederson to England, despite signing the Chilean from FC Barcelona due to his technical abilities with the ball at his feet.

A string of bad performances led to Bravo’s demise at the top-flight outfit, where the outcast ‘keeper is under contract on an £80,000-per-week deal until the summer when he is set to become a free agent.

Retirement is not expected to be on the cards for the 36-year-old just yet, and Bravo’s desire to compete is likely set to see the 121-cap international secure another move as he eyes a place in Chile’s national side.

Moves to Mexico, China or a return to Spain are suggested; though England is a country that Bravo likes and feels comfortable in, and could be where he looks to make the next step of his trophy-laden career.

Leeds is put forward as a possible destination for Bravo that is growing stronger, as boss Marcelo Bielsa likes the one-time Champions League winner’s footwork and believes the £1.35million-rated shot-stopper would be a suitable replacement for Casilla.

Who would you prefer in goal next season?

Casilla

Bravo

Bravo

Casilla has found himself subjected to criticism by the Elland Road faithful lately for his performances in the Championship, with hordes of supporters urging Bielsa to drop the Spaniard for Saturday’s clash with Nottingham Forest.

The former Real Madrid ‘keeper has been a mainstay of Bielsa’s plans since his arrival as a free agent in January 2019 with Casilla only sitting out one regular-season second-tier fixture to date, having been suspended for the 3-2 win over Millwall last March.

Casilla faced a questionable future at the club last summer before Whites chiefs pulled off a U-turn and kept him at Elland Road, which led to the 33-year-old keeping 12 clean sheets in the first 21 games of the league campaign though is without a shut-out in his past nine.

Whether a rusty veteran Bravo would be an upgrade on Casilla remains to be seen, as would whether or not the Man City outcast would consider life at Elland Road.

In other Leeds United news, a prominent pundit has pondered whether or not Bielsa will make an ‘interesting’ decision with his team selection this weekend.

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