NafisaEintracht Frankfurt goalkeeper Michael Zetterer is edging closer to a move to Leeds United, with Daniel Farke continuing to work on strengthening his squad before the summer transfer window closes.
The Whites have already made significant changes between the posts this summer, most notably completing a club-record move for James Trafford from Manchester City.
The England international made an immediate impact on his competitive debut, keeping a clean sheet as Leeds defeated Nottingham Forest 1-0 at the City Ground on the opening weekend.
However, Farke’s goalkeeper department remains an area that needs attention.
Illan Meslier and Karl Darlow have both departed Elland Road, while Lucas Perri is expected to leave Leeds before the transfer deadline, with Torino heavily linked with the Brazilian.
That would leave Trafford as the clear first-choice option, but Farke still needs an experienced deputy capable of providing genuine competition and cover throughout the campaign.
That is where Zetterer has entered the picture.
The 31-year-old has emerged as Leeds’ leading target in recent days, although reports from Germany have offered slightly different versions of how close the deal actually is.
According to BILD, via Sport Witness, a move to Elland Road is “possible in principle”, suggesting that the two clubs are open to reaching an agreement.
However, there remains an important obstacle.
German journalist Florian Plettenberg has reported that Leeds have yet to reach an agreement with either Frankfurt or Zetterer, while the goalkeeper’s current salary is also understood to be higher than what the Premier League club are currently prepared to offer.
That means the deal cannot yet be considered completed.
There is nevertheless growing optimism that the situation could change quickly, particularly with another German outlet, Kicker, claiming that Zetterer is expected to join Leeds in the coming days.
Zetterer would arrive at Elland Road with plenty of experience behind him.
The German goalkeeper spent several years waiting for his opportunity to become a regular at Werder Bremen before establishing himself as a dependable Bundesliga goalkeeper. His performances between the 2021/22 and 2024/25 seasons eventually earned him a move to Eintracht Frankfurt.
He made 28 appearances for Frankfurt last season, conceding 35 goals and recording seven clean sheets.
Those numbers do not necessarily tell the full story of his performances, however, and his experience at the highest level of German football is precisely what could appeal to Farke.
Leeds have already shown with the Trafford signing that they want to significantly improve their goalkeeping options. Bringing in Zetterer would give them an experienced alternative behind the 22-year-old, rather than leaving the manager overly reliant on a single first-choice goalkeeper for the long Premier League campaign.
The timing is also becoming increasingly important.
With the transfer window approaching its conclusion, Leeds cannot afford to leave themselves short in such an important position. Perri’s expected departure would make the need for another goalkeeper even more pressing.
For now, though, Zetterer’s proposed move remains in the balance.
There is interest, there is reportedly a route towards an agreement and Kicker’s information suggests the player could be heading to Yorkshire soon. But until the salary issue and final agreement with Frankfurt are resolved, Leeds fans will have to wait before treating the experienced German as Farke’s next signing.
Nafisa
