LEEDS, June 24 (Xinhua) -- English Championship giants Leeds United have emerged as one of the favorites to sign 41-year-old goalkeeping legend Gianluigi Buffon.
The club, managed by iconic Argentine manager Marcelo Bielsa, have shockingly appeared as frontrunners for the Italian's signature. Buffon has been a free agent since the start of the summer after leaving French champions Paris Saint-Germain, and has been linked with a number of clubs including Portuguese Premiera Liga runners-up Porto and Buffon's first professional club Parma.
Leeds United missed out on promotion to the Premier League last season in the final week despite leading the table for most of the season. The club, who signed Kiko Casilla from Real Madrid last January have struggled for consistency in net and hope that the experienced head of the Italian World Cup and nine-time Serie A winner will bring much needed calm and control at the back.
The club, which regularly returns the highest attendances in England's second division and record domestic viewing figures ahead of clubs such as champions Manchester City, are set increase their spending on transfers after a thin squad struggled with the rigors of the Championship.
