Leeds United appear to be lagging behind in their pursuit of Royal Union Saint-Gilloise goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen. The report, initially revealed by Sky Sports journalist Ben Heckner, indicates that the 26-year-old Dutch shot-stopper has already made his preference known—and Elland Road is not where he intends to go.

According to Voetbal International journalist Joost Blaauwhof, the chances of Leeds securing Scherpen are slim. Blaauwhof further added that the goalkeeper is unaware of Leeds’ interest and has his sights firmly set on Ipswich Town. Brighton & Hove Albion still hold a 40% sell-on clause from his previous transfer, while the player’s valuation stands at approximately €10 million—around £8.5 million. Ipswich are reported to have already agreed on personal terms with him.

At Elland Road, the pressure is mounting. Karl Darlow has moved to Manchester United on a free transfer, Illan Meslier has joined Arsenal, and manager Daniel Farke has lost confidence in Lucas Perri. Scherpen is simply the latest name on a growing list of potential goalkeeping targets, yet Leeds have made little meaningful progress in securing a new number one.

To be fair, Scherpen’s 2025/26 season with Union Saint-Gilloise was impressive. He featured in 40 matches across all competitions, keeping eight clean sheets in the Belgian Pro League and playing a vital role in the club’s Belgian Cup triumph.

Those performances helped the team qualify for Champions League football, and his average FotMob rating in the Belgian top flight was 7.16—an excellent figure for a goalkeeper. Standing tall at 6ft 9in, Scherpen commands his area with authority. He dominates aerial duels, claims crosses confidently, and neutralises near-post threats effectively. There is little debate regarding his physical presence or shot-stopping ability.

However, concerns remain about his experience at higher levels. During his four-year spell at Brighton, Scherpen made just a single senior appearance—a long period to spend as a backup. Even during that time, Brighton were not particularly rich in world-class keepers. His loan spells at Vitesse and Sturm Graz, however, proved beneficial. Winning two Austrian Bundesliga titles with the latter showed he could deliver under pressure. Yet, there remains a considerable leap from the Belgian Pro League to the Premier League.

For Ipswich Town, fresh off their promotion and building a balanced squad, Scherpen fits their strategy perfectly—ambitious but still developing, affordable, and young enough to improve further. The move makes sense for them.

For Leeds United, the situation is different. Farke urgently requires a goalkeeper who can lead a dressing room targeting promotion this season. Reports suggest Scherpen does not even consider Leeds a viable destination in this transfer window. Pursuing a player mentally committed elsewhere could be an unnecessary distraction. The £8.5 million could be better spent on a target genuinely interested in joining the club. Leeds would be wise to move on swiftly, find a keeper eager to wear their shirt, and refocus their resources during what remains a crucial transfer window.