Leeds United linked with Serie A keeper

The transfer activity and rumour mill is kicking into gear at Leeds United in recent days. First a Sporting Lisbon starlet joins the training camp in Ireland, then a French winger turns the club down. But today it is the turn of  a Serie A goalkeeper to make the headlines, according to Italian publication mediagol.

The keeper in question is Palermo youngster Fabrizio Alastra, an 18-year-old Italian. Alastra made the step up from Palermo Primavera (youth side) to the Palermo first team this season. He played two Serie A games against Torino (3-1 loss) and Roma (5-0 loss).

Against Torino he replaced first-choice keeper Stefano Sorrentino on 36 minutes with Palermo already trailing 2-0. Against Roma, and playing the full 90, Alastra conceded five times. On that night, Palermo were destroyed by Mohamed Salah and Edin Dzeko with two goals each.

However according mediagol who report an interview with his agent Francesco Caliandro, Leeds United are showing an interest in the youngster. Caliandro said that he would be meeting with Palermo to “discuss” the situation with Alastra “judiciously”. He said that whilst he is “aware of the path that a young man must necessarily do,” this needs to be done in discussion with Palermo.

Caliandro, when asked specifically about the interest from Leeds replied in quite a firm manner. On this matter he said: “there is a difference between the expression of interest and concluding a transaction,” implying that United have made only a tentative approach.

However, whether Leeds United firm up their supposed interest is something else. Firstly, would the club be likley to depose current #1 in Italian Marco Silvestri? Secondly, the Whites have a highly-rated youngster of their own who only recently signed an extension with the proviso of greater opportunity. Thirdly, Leeds have a #3 in Ross Turnbull who is likely to the back-up choice for the bench.

Would 18-year-old Alastra be prepared to swap a bench place with a Serie A side for the uncertainty of what he’d face at Elland Road? Likely not.

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