Leeds are interested in signing the 10-game Englishman

Leeds United struck last summer when they sought to sign midfielder Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer from Everton to strengthen Daniel Farke’s side.

It was eye-catching business as the English number 9 was coming off the back of a disappointing campaign with the Toffees.

Calvert-Lewin scored three goals at 6.75 xG in 26 Premier League appearances in the 2024/25 campaign, making his arrival at Elland Road look like a risky move for the club.

The experienced striker exceeded all expectations, however, scoring 14 goals in 35 Premier League appearances for Farke’s side, averaging a goal every 195 minutes.

He recorded his highest goal tally since scoring 21 goals in all competitions for Carlo Ancelotti in the 2020/21 campaign, as Leeds managed to get the best out of him at the other end of the pitch.

Leeds are the favorites to sign the English Premier League talent

The Whites deserved to strike gold with Calvert-Lewin because they were willing to risk him after enduring a difficult year last season.

Now, the club are eyeing one of the England internationals who has struggled at times this season, and could be the next Calvert-Lewin in West Yorkshire.

According to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, Leeds United are “favourites” to sign Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope in the summer transfer window.

Speaking to Football Insider, Wyness said: “Leeds are favorites (for the Pope), but I think they will have to sell Perri, who has also not been successful.

“He could do something like £10m or £12m. If they can get that, it would be good money for them, and I think Pope will be the one to come in.”

Wyness added: “There is interest from Ipswich, and that is close, but I expect him to end up at Leeds. I think that would be good for Leeds to get him there.

The Sun previously reported that the Magpies wanted around £5m for the veteran goalkeeper, and now it is up to Leeds to pay the asking price to bring him to Elland Road.

How Nick Pope could be Leeds United’s next Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Despite missing out on the final World Cup squad, Calvert-Lewin has worked his way back into England’s planned March camp due to his form with the Whites.

Pope could look to follow in his footsteps by joining Leeds this summer, after missing out on being one of Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup goalkeepers this summer, with Jordan Pickford, James Trafford, and Dean Henderson ahead of him.

The stopper, 34, has played ten games for England since making his debut in 2018, but his form in the Premier League this season suggests he deserved to be left out of the World Cup squad.

Only Robin Roefs and Bart Verbruggen (four) have made more mistakes leading to goals as Premier League goalkeepers in the 2025/26 campaign, and he also made two mistakes that went unpunished.

Pope scored 3.50 more goals than expected, based on the xG of shots against his goal, indicating that his shooting was below the required level for the Magpies.

The old star, however, is a good player who had a bad season, like Calvert-Lewin at Everton, rather than a bad player who performed as expected.

In his Premier League career, the £5m talent has kept 82 clean sheets in 248 games for Newcastle and Burnley, proving that he is an experienced and often trusted goalkeeper in the top flight.

Pope, once hailed by Pep Guardiola as “amazing”, prevented 0.05 goals in the 2024/25 campaign and 1.50 goals in the 2023/24 Premier League season, showing he can net between the sticks as a striker.

Therefore, the England star has the chance to be the next Calvert-Lewin at Elland Road as Farke can help revive the England international’s career after a dip in form at their previous club.