Leeds United have a goalkeeper problem. Actually, they have several. Illan Meslier left on a free. Karl Darlow went to Manchester United. Lucas Perri is about to join Torino on loan. That leaves Daniel Farke with basically nobody. So the club is looking at Michele Di Gregorio, the 28-year-old Juventus keeper who had a rough season and might be available for cheap. According to Corriere dello Sport, Juventus want around €10-11 million for him. That sounds like a steal for a Serie A goalkeeper. But there’s a reason the price dropped.
Di Gregorio was excellent at Monza. He won Serie A’s goalkeeper of the year award in 2023-24, making 127 saves in 33 games. His distribution was sharp, his sweeper-keeper instincts looked perfect for a modern high line. Juventus paid €18.8 million for him in 2025. Then last season happened. He got benched by Luciano Spalletti after high-profile mistakes against Inter Milan and Como. His save percentage dropped from 70.4% in his first Juve season to 68.1%. He managed only nine clean sheets in 30 league starts. That’s not a blip. That’s a trend.
The Numbers Tell a Story
Di Gregorio’s save rate has declined for two straight seasons now. At Monza it was 78.3%. At Juventus, 70.4%. Now 68.1%. That’s not ideal for a Premier League team that ranked 14th in expected goals conceded last year at 55.7. Juventus could shield him behind a solid defense. Leeds can’t offer that same protection. Putting a keeper with declining numbers behind a leaky backline is a recipe for more problems.
His agent, Carlo Alberto Belloni, has confirmed multiple European clubs are interested. Tottenham have been linked but haven’t made a formal bid. Liverpool were mentioned earlier this year before moving on. Leeds have made what Tuttosport called “very timid enquiries” — more like checking in than a real pursuit.
The Better Option Is Already Out There
Zion Suzuki is younger, has bigger upside, and just played well for Japan at the World Cup. He should be Leeds’ primary target. If that deal falls through, Di Gregorio at around £9 million might be worth a shot as a backup plan. But not as the main man. Farke has spent months building a project that needs stability. Bringing in a keeper who lost his starting job at a struggling Juventus team, even at a bargain price, feels like a short-term gamble. Leeds need a real answer in goal, not a discount bin special.
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