Leeds United: North east clubs Middlesbrough and Sunderland circling for stopper Green

Middlesbrough and Sunderland are monitoring Leeds United goalkeeper Rob Green after the arrival of Felix Wiedwald at Elland Road last week.
Rob Green. PIC: Bruce RollinsonRob Green. PIC: Bruce Rollinson
Rob Green. PIC: Bruce Rollinson

The Championship clubs are considering moving for Green if the former England international’s position as first choice at United is threatened by Wiedwald’s move from Werder Bremen.

United paid around £500,000 to sign Wiedwald on a three-year contract on Friday, adding a fourth keeper to their first-team squad.

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Youngster Bailey Peacock-Farrell is set to leave Elland Road on a year-long loan but the recruitment of Wiedwald has raised questions about the prospects of Green and Marco Silvestri next season.

Marco Silvestri. PIC: Bruce RollinsonMarco Silvestri. PIC: Bruce Rollinson
Marco Silvestri. PIC: Bruce Rollinson

Green, who joined United on a free transfer from Queens Park Rangers last summer, was a regular in his first campaign at Elland Road, starting all 46 of the club’s Championship matches.

His impressive form activated an appearance-related clause in his 12-month deal, extending his stay at Leeds to June 2018, but Garry Monk – the head coach who brought Green to United – quit his post shortly after the end of the 2016-17 term.

Green turned 37 in January and United’s move for Wiedwald brought in a keeper 10 years his junior.

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Silvestri, meanwhile, played just six times under Monk last season and has only 12 months left on his Elland Road contract.

Bailey Peacock-Farrell. PIC : Jonathan GawthorpeBailey Peacock-Farrell. PIC : Jonathan Gawthorpe
Bailey Peacock-Farrell. PIC : Jonathan Gawthorpe

Monk took charge of Middlesbrough last month and he and new Sunderland boss Simon Grayson are understood to be keen on taking Green if the former England international loses his place to Wiedwald.

The pecking order under new Leeds head coach Thomas Christiansen is likely to become clear as the club’s pre-season friendlies play out this month.

Wiedwald, Green and Silvestri are all in contention to feature against Harrogate Town in a behind-closed-doors fixture at Thorp Arch on Wednesday.

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Silvestri is fully recovered from the knee operation he underwent in April.

n Leeds United’s new Championship fixture list has seen a fifth change after their Easter Monday trip to Fulham was moved to Tuesday, April 3 (7.45pm kick-off).