Man Utd to go after top Premier League rivals in transfer for the first time in 22 years
Manchester United might be doing business with their fierce rivals Leeds United for the first time since 2004, as reports say they’re interested in signing one of their players.
The rivalry between these two clubs goes way back to the 1960s, when both were battling for league titles under Sir Matt Busby and Don Revie. It’s called the Roses rivalry because United and Leeds are from Lancashire and Yorkshire, two neighboring counties.
Leeds won the league in 1991/92 after a tight race with United, and a match between them in 1997 sparked the famous feud between Roy Keane and Alf-Inge Haaland. Leeds was relegated in 2004 after big financial problems caused by heavy spending in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
It took Leeds 16 years to make it back to the Premier League under Marcelo Bielsa, and their recent 2-1 win over United at Old Trafford shows the rivalry still matters a lot.
So, it’s a bit surprising to hear that United want to sign Leeds goalkeeper Karl Darlow. According to talkSPORT, they see him as a backup to Senne Lammens, and the fact he’s a homegrown player makes him even more attractive.
Darlow, 35, has mostly been second choice at Leeds but stepped in midway last season, playing 22 Premier League games. In the second half of that season, Leeds conceded fewer goals and performed much better, finishing eighth in the form table.
The last direct move from Leeds to Manchester United was Alan Smith in 2004 after Leeds were relegated. His transfer was emotional because he had come through Leeds’ academy and had said he’d never sign for United, even kissing the Leeds badge when they went down.
Leeds were forced to sell players after dropping to the Championship due to serious money troubles. They borrowed heavily against future income, making Champions League qualification very important.
Leeds lost a play-off final in 2006, entered administration, and then dropped to League One. Whether Darlow will get the same reaction from Leeds fans as Smith did is unclear, as attitudes have softened over the years. But if he moves, it would be the first direct transfer between the clubs in 22 years.