Man Utd flop set to leave as Michael Carrick closes in on summer signing

Manchester United are reportedly on the cusp of signing free agent Karl Darlow.

Darlow, 35, is available on a free transfer this summer having allowed his contract with Leeds United to run down last month.

Leeds had been pushing to secure Darlow on a new deal after the goalkeeper ousted Lucas Perri last season, with the veteran shot-stopper starting every single match from mid-January through to the end of the campaign.

Darlow was a hugely popular figure in the Leeds dressing room and finished the Premier League season with five clean sheets to his name.

However, the Wales international rejected several offers from Leeds, keen to keep his options open for a fresh challenge away from Elland Road in the twilight years of his career.

According to The Athletic, the Red Devils have been on the lookout for an experienced and, preferably homegrown, ‘keeper this summer to come in as back-up for undisputed number one Senne Lammens.

The report claims Everton had also expressed an interest in Darlow, while Tottenham were also known to be admirers of the former Newcastle and Nottingham Forest man.

Darlow’s proposed move to Old Trafford would likely see Altay Bayindir head in the opposite direction after three error-strewn years, with Besiktas believed to be circling for the Turkey international.

Leeds head coach Daniel Farke was coy on Darlow’s future as the Welshman became the subject of incessant speculation towards the end of the season.

‘Like I said about the future, we’ll just speak once everything is confirmed – about futures, about our recruitment, about goalkeepers, outfield players, staff members, whatever,’ Farke told reporters in April.

‘But how much I trust Karl and value Karl, you could tell by the fact that he was in the crunch-time last season in that he is right now in such a period my number one goalkeeper.

‘I’ve got not just the highest respect for Karl, but also I rate him so, so high. And Karl knows this 100 per cent, there’s a big, big trust between each other.

‘You can read, perhaps even a bit in between the lines, if you want. But I will just speak about the future, once everything’s confirmed.’

It appears United are just getting started with their summer business, 12 months on from a transfer splurge that saw the club spend in excess of £200million on new recruits, including forwards Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko.

The Red Devils are understood to be prioritising central midfield this summer and have reportedly wrapped up deals to sign Atalanta’s Ederson and Chelsea’s Andrey Santos in recent days.

Darlow looks set to be the second goalkeeper to depart Leeds this summer, with Illan Meslier leaving on a free transfer to join Premier League champions Arsenal this week.

Meslier had fallen down the pecking order at Elland Road and failed to make a single appearance in the Premier League last season.

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