Leeds United plot goalkeeper signing – Transfer insider
Leeds United are plotting to sign a new goalkeeper in the January transfer window to replace Illan Meslier.
This is according to Mick Brown, the former chief scout at Man United who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that concerns about the 24-year-old have led to frustrating results at Leeds.
Brown has a wealth of experience in scouting at the top level, and he insisted that a new goalkeeper would help settle the team and find more consistent results.
It was said that, given Meslier’s inconsistencies since arriving at Elland Road, the defence can never totally rely on their goalkeeper, which leads to further issues.
This comes following his last-gasp mistake against league-leading Sunderland which threw away what would have been an impressive victory away from home.
Concerns about the goalkeeper have been long-standing since their relegation from the Premier League, and Leeds could now enter the transfer market to make amends.
Leeds United considering January transfer swoop after what Illan Meslier did
Speculation about the future of Meslier at Leeds has been rife given his inconsistencies in goal, amid calls for the club to cash in on him since their relegation to the Championship.
Brown, who also worked as a scout for the likes of Aston Villa, Sunderland and West Ham, insisted that the club would be assessing their options given the importance of a stable goalkeeper.
“I’m told they’ll certainly be looking at their options,” he told Football Insider.
“Meslier represents, to me, what Leeds United have become. I think they’re totally inconsistent.
“They’re all over the place at times, got left-backs playing centre-forward and all of this, and it leads to some really frustrating results for them.
“Part of that is the defence having a goalkeeper behind them who gives them confidence.
“They need somebody who comes to claim crosses and makes saves you don’t expect of them.
“But if, all of a sudden, he’s throwing one into his own net, it just leads to more nerves and inconsistency within the team and the back line.
“Leeds have been like that for four or five years now and that’s why they didn’t get promoted last season.
“That incident with Meslier – you’d never see that coming, but it happens. That’s Leeds at the moment.
“If it wasn’t him, it would be somebody else making a silly mistake.
“But that’s why they’re definitely going to be considering their options because having that solid and consistent goalkeeper would do them a world of good.”
In other news, Leeds fans are expected to play a key role if Daniel Farke is sacked.
For more Leeds United news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.