Leeds United are believed to be closing in on a solution to their goalkeeping problem. As reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post, the Whites expect to sign Kiko Casilla before the weekend clash with Stoke City.

The Spaniard is set to be bought out of his final 18 months contracted to Real Madrid and Leeds will be bringing in a top keeper as a consequence.

Interestingly, there is a Rafa Benitez link throughout all of this. First of all, Benitez is the man who re-signed Casilla for Real Madrid from Espanyol.

Then there is the Karl Darlow situation. As reported by the YEP, Leeds wanted the Newcastle United stopper on loan. However, the Magpies were only willing to sell him this month, with £4 million being the asking price.

It left Leeds looking elsewhere in the market. Casilla appears to be the man they will sign, which may not go down well with Benitez.

Because it has been reported, that Casilla is also a Newcastle target. With Darlow intent on leaving, Rob Elliot injury prone and Freddie Woodman still young, Newcastle were reportedly looking for further back-up to number one Martin Dubravka.

According to Calcio Mercato, Newcastle had made contact over reuniting Benitez and Casilla in January. They had also been keen in 2017, according to The Chronicle, but Casilla was still second-choice at Real at the time.

Now it seems that Newcastle’s decision not to loan Darlow has cost them any chance to sign Casilla.

The winners, at the end of the day, look like being Leeds United.