Sky Sports: Leeds Want to Sign Ex-Man Utd Star in Surprise Deal
Leeds United Set Sights on Torino’s Vanja Milinkovic-Savic as Goalkeeper Search Intensifies
Leeds United are reportedly considering a summer swoop for Torino’s towering goalkeeper, Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, as part of their efforts to bolster the squad ahead of the new campaign. According to Italian journalist Luca Marchetti of Sky Italia, the Championship outfit are keeping a close watch on the 6ft 8in Serbian international, who has emerged as a transfer target for several clubs across Europe.
Milinkovic-Savic’s name has cropped up on the radar of multiple sides this window, with previous links suggesting a potential return to Manchester United — a club he briefly joined during his early career. However, the strongest interest until recently appeared to be coming from Serie A champions Napoli. The Italian giants were keen on securing his services as competition for their current first-choice goalkeeper, Alex Meret.
Despite that interest, Napoli’s pursuit has cooled in recent weeks, largely due to Meret signing a new contract and Torino rejecting the Neapolitans’ opening bid. Napoli are believed to have tabled an offer in the region of €16 million (£13.7 million), falling short of the €19 million (£16 million) release clause written into Milinkovic-Savic’s contract. With that bid rebuffed, the door has been left open for other suitors — and Leeds United are now firmly in the frame.
Leeds’ goalkeeping situation remains a key focus area for the club, with French stopper Illan Meslier expected to move on this summer. The club’s recruitment team is actively exploring options to bring in a reliable and experienced replacement, and Milinkovic-Savic’s consistent performances in Serie A over the last few seasons make him an appealing candidate.
Since joining Torino in 2017 from Polish outfit Lechia Gdańsk, the 27-year-old has become an established presence between the sticks. Over the past four seasons, he has made 158 appearances for the Granata, registering 52 clean sheets in that period. In the 2024/25 Serie A campaign alone, Milinkovic-Savic featured in 37 matches, conceded 42 goals, and kept 10 clean sheets, clocking over 3,300 minutes of game time — a testament to his durability and reliability.
French club AS Monaco are also said to have shown interest in the Serbian, but it is Leeds who appear increasingly serious about exploring a potential deal. The club, now under pressure to secure Premier League promotion, is actively looking to strengthen multiple areas of the squad following their near-miss last season.
Having already kicked off their summer transfer business with the signings of striker Lukas Nmecha, central defender Jaka Bijol, and versatile defender Sebastiaan Bornauw, Leeds are now shifting their focus to both midfield and goalkeeping additions. German midfielder Anton Stach of Hoffenheim has been identified as a primary midfield target, but attention is also turning rapidly toward finalising their goalkeeping plans.
With Milinkovic-Savic’s future in Italy uncertain and Torino reportedly open to offers that meet the release clause, Leeds may see this as an opportunity to land a top-tier keeper at a reasonable price. Whether the Whites are willing to match the €19 million asking price remains to be seen, but their interest appears genuine as the race to secure the Serbian international heats up.