Leeds United plot £10m Wolverhampton Wanderers raid | OneFootball

Leeds United are plotting a £10m move for Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, according to reports.

Leeds United are 'on red alert' for Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.

That's according to journalist Alan Nixon reporting via his Patreon page, as the Yorkshire-based side are in the hunt for a replacement for Illan Meslier.

The Frenchman has been dropped by Daniel Farke, following a string of errors which cost his side points in the promotion race. United can secure promotion on Easter Monday, however, if they beat Stoke City and Burnley avoid defeat against Sheffield United.

With that in mind, Leeds are showing no signs of slowing down in their preparations for their inevitable return to the Premier League, and are looking to add a keeper with top flight experience to their ranks.

Johnstone has fallen out of favour under new boss Vitor Pereira, which could see him look for a move elsewhere in the summer, reports Nixon.

Leeds United target Wolves' Sam Johnstone

It's no secret that the weakest point for Farke's side has been between the sticks. The German kept his faith in Meslier for as long as he could, but error after error eventually led to the Frenchman being dropped in favour of Karl Darlow.

Leeds have been searching for a goalkeeper for a while now, and were previously linked with moves for Newcastle United's Nick Pope and Burnley's James Trafford. However, Nixon reported that these two deals could prove to be too expensive and difficult to complete.

This has reportedly seen the Whites turn their attention to out-of-favour Wolves stopper Johnstone, who could cost Leeds just £10m.

Nixon states that the Premier League strugglers are keen to offload the former England international this summer, getting his large salary off their payroll.

Johnstone has been out of the side since the appointment of Pereira in December. Wolves also axed their goalkeeping coach (Neil Cutler) who tempted the 32-year-old to Molineux from Crystal Palace, the journalist also added.

Sam Johnstone offers Leeds Premier League experience

The top priority for Leeds this summer will be to address the goalkeeping issue.

Meslier has been unable to cope with the demands of the Championship based on the evidence he's displayed, so the step-up to the Premier League probably wouldn't be a risk worth taking for the club or for the player.

Johnstone offers a solid, experienced pair of hands between the sticks, who is tried and tested at Premier League level. His time at West Brom and Crystal Palace earned him England call-ups, but the move to Wolves just hasn't paid off.

With his current club reportedly keen to get him off the payroll, and Johnstone surely wanting to move somewhere where he'll be the first-choice keeper, the move makes sense for both parties.

Wolves reportedly paid around £10m for his services last summer, so they'll be eager to recoup some of that fee they spent on the former England international.

The 32-year-old is a much cheaper alternative to the likes of Pope and Trafford, and has proven to be just as capable in both the Championship and the Premier League.