Chris
3rd choice Leeds United goalkeeper Kristoffer Klaesson has become an unfortunate afterthought at Elland Road and it may need to make a decision in January to save his career.
The young shot-stopper has unfortunately seen his first-team opportunities seriously limited ever since his move from Valeranga in 2021.
In fact, the 22-year-old goalkeeper has only made just one appearance for the club, in the Premier League last season – a 3-2 win away to Wolverhampton Wanderers in March 2022 following an injury to first-choice Illan Meslier.
Klaesson finds himself behind the French number one and summer addition Karl Darlow, and considering his young age, with huge room to grow and develop even further, the 22-year-old will be forgiven for trying to find pastures new elsewhere in January.
The Norwegian did start the pre-season game against Manchester United over the summer and will have used that game as a chance to make an impression under new boss Daniel Farke, especially after there was an expectation that Meslier could quit (Leeds Live, 18 June).
However, the Frenchman has since gone on to become the undisputed starter once again under Farke and has even made marquee improvements along with the Leeds United defence in recent weeks, but it’s come as a major cost to Klaesson who’s at an age where he needs to be playing football.
He didn’t played too much for the Leeds Under-21s last season either, completing just seven appearances in Premier League 2 which suggests that he is an unfortunate forgotten man around the whole club.
The fact that the Whites were also looking for another young goalkeeper as a potential back-up to Meslier during the January transfer window (Belgium media outlet, HLN, 8 January) certainly suggested that the club simply didn’t hold any trust in Klaesson to develop and continue his progression at Elland Road.
At this young stage in his career, Klaesson would be incredibly smart and brave to jump ship as soon as possible. His long-term future may depend on this decision.
