Leeds United Linked with Young Irish Goalie

All was calm when Felix Wiedwald joined Leeds United from Werder Bremen, as far as Leeds are concerned. Before the transfer was official, there were reports that Wiedwald was forced out of Die Werderaner due to the incoming transfer of Czech goalkeeper Jiri Pavelka, a transfer that has since gone on to actually happen. But from the moment Wiedwald set foot in Yorkshire, reports about goalkeepers leaving Elland Road shortly followed.

Rob Green was rumored to make a switch to Arsenal! and has since still been rumored to leave the Whites for Sunderland or Middlesbrough. Marco Silvestri was and did make the move back home to Italy, joining Chievo Verona. Not to be forgotten, Bailey Peacock-Farrell signed a new contract and joined Oldham Athletic on loan, only for the Latics to ax the loan a full 4 days in after he failed to impress the club in a tryout. He’s back with Leeds and is set to be the only other goalkeeper on the roster if Rob Green does decide to depart from Elland Road. It’s no surprise then that Leeds are linked with a keeper heading into August. According to the Irish Mirror, Leeds are one of two Championship sides that are interested in St. Patrick’s 23-year-old (some reports say that he’s 22, but he turns 23 the day of publishing this, so happy birthday!) Conor O’Malley. The article goes on to say that Wigan Athletic and Peterborough, who are both League One sides, are interested in the keeper as well.

Conor O’Malley joined St. Pat’s from Shamrock Rovers ahead of the 2015/16 season. While he was playing with Shamrock Rovers B, O’Malley kept four clean sheets in 15 appearances and was named the Shamrock Rovers B Team Player of the Year. Since his arrival at St. Pat’s, O’Malley has won two League cups. He’s also represented Ireland in the Centenary Shield.

To put it bluntly, I don’t see Conor O’Malley as an impact signing. If anything, he’d battle Bailey Peacock-Farrell as the goalkeeper to watch out for in 4 years. Both BPF and Conor O’Malley, to me, are two years away from being two years away. It’d be an interesting one, this.

Albeit, I can’t say I watch much of Irish football, so if you’re an Irishman/woman and know more about this goalkeeper, please let me know in the comments below! MOT