Danny Mills has suggested that Bailey Peacock-Farrell should look to leave Leeds United this summer.
The former Whites right-back believes the young Northern Ireland shot-stopper should try and get a temporary move away from Elland Road to help continue his development and put him in a better position when Marcelo Bielsa requires him in the future.
While Kiko Casilla is currently the number one in between the sticks, Mills does not believe the Spaniard will be sticking around for too much longer and feels Peacock-Farrell would not do himself any harm by spending time away from the club in the meantime.
Speaking to Football Insider, the former player-turned-pundit said: “It’s tough as a young keeper, he’s had a taste of first-team football, he’s been in and had a taste of international football as well. Goalkeeper is a position that generally you need that sort of experience.
“I think if he had the opportunity to go out on loan then I would try and take that route. Kiko Casilla is not going to be around forever at Leeds United, I’m pretty sure he’s not going to swap Madrid permanently for Yorkshire.
“It might be one more season, it might be two. If Peacock-Farrell learns during that time and he becomes a solid, better keeper, he might be able to step into those shoes.”
As Mills alluded to, Peacock-Farrell had a number of opportunities as Leeds’ number one last season as the 22-year-old made 29 appearances across all competitions, keeping ten clean sheets and conceding 32 goals (Transfermarkt).
However, he was fortunate to feature as much as he did as Bielsa had revealed he was preparing to drop the Northern Ireland international and replace him with Jamal Blackman prior to the Chelsea loanee’s season-ending injury (Leeds Live).
Whether Leeds allow Peacock-Farrell the opportunity to look for first-team football temporarily is another matter though.
Casilla hardly provided the Whites with a glowing reference in his first six months at Elland Road as he made a high-profile gaffe against Derby County in the play-off semi-final defeat, whilst he did not always look as assured in between the sticks as many would have initially expected.
For the wealth of experience and the accolades the 32-year-old has won in regards to playing at the top level (Transfermarkt), the Spaniard managed just six clean sheets in his first 19 games.
Should Peacock-Farrell depart, that would leave Bielsa with 20-year-old Will Huffer to deputise – a shot-stopper who has played just once in the Championship. Leeds will arguably need someone with more experience than 90 minutes under their belt if they are to challenge for Premier League football should Casilla not go to plan.
Leeds fans, do you agree with Mills or do you think Peacock-Farrell should remain at the club for the upcoming campaign? Let us know your thoughts by sharing them in the comments section below!
