Kiko Casilla has been told that he will only be Leeds’ second-choice goalkeeper as they make their return to the Premier League next season, a report from Football Insider has claimed.
The Spaniard had largely been the club’s number one between the posts following his move from Real Madrid in January 2019, although he looked to have fallen down the pecking order following his eight-match ban towards the end of the 2019/20 campaign.
That is something that now appears to have been confirmed, with the latest reports claiming that Casilla has been told he will not be the club’s first-choice between the posts for the coming campaign.
What impact that has on Casilla’s future at Leeds remains to be seen, with manager Marcelo Bielsa said to be open to the 33-year-old staying at the club to fight for his place, although the goalkeeper could now look for first-team football elsewhere.
As things stand, there are three years remaining on Casilla’s current contract with Leeds, securing his future at Elland Road until the end of the 2022/23 season.
This does seem to be the right decision for Leeds to make ahead of their step back up to the top-flight of English football.
Even without the circumstances surrounding Casilla’s ban, you feel it would be a risk for Leeds to use the Spaniard as their number one next season.
Considering the errors he has made during the time in the Championship, you feel Casilla would be even more exposed in the Premier League, and that potential for costly errors from the 33-year-old could make it seriously hard for Leeds to be competitive next season.
It will be interesting now to see how Leeds move on from this decision, and whether they give the inexperienced Illan Meslier the number one spot for next season, or head back into the transfer market in search of a more established goalkeeper this summer.