Sources: Liverpool set sights on third Leeds player as scouts 'blown away'

Sources: Liverpool set sights on third Leeds player as scouts 'blown away'

Wayne Veysey

Founder & Managing Director AUTHORITY Former chief correspondent at Evening Standard, Goal and Press Association with nearly three decades in national, regional and digital news and sports journalism. Wayne directs the network’s news strategy and high-level operations. FOCUS Editorial direction for the 11-site network and newsroom management. THE BRIEF Wayne oversees the network’s editorial standards across the network. He provides the final sign-off on all headline scoops, ensuring content across all platforms meets the standards required for a high-velocity newsroom.

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Liverpool are keeping tabs on Leeds United trio Kalvin Phillips, Raphinha and Illan Meslier, Football Insider understands.

Midfielder Phillips, 25, and wide attacker Raphinha, 24, have long been on the radar of the Merseyside giants after making a big impact in the Premier League over the last two seasons.

A Liverpool source has told Football Insider that goalkeeper Meslier, 21, is the third Elland Road regular to catch the eye of their talent spotters.

They have been hugely impressed by the commanding Frenchman since he broke into the Leeds team last year and immediately established himself as the number one.

Meslier is emerging as one of the best young keepers in world football under the tutelage of Marcelo Bielsa.

The 6ft 5in Frenchman is not only an agile and commanding shot-stopper but outstanding with the ball at his feet, which is a key quality for a keeper in a Jurgen Klopp side.

At Leeds, he is regarded as a key asset in the team's passing patterns and is encouraged to take risks in order to launch attacking moves.

His comfort under pressure is said by the source to have "blown away" Liverpool scouts in the market for a new goalkeeper.

Meslier is attracting interest from multiple elite clubs due to his development at Elland Road.

Leeds are aware of that and the £5million signing from Lorient was secured to a new five-year contract at the start of the season.

His value is likely to be many times what United paid for him in 2019.

Alisson, 29, is the long-established Anfield number one and is widely regarded as one of the world's outstanding keepers.

He signed a new six-year contract in August but tends to miss a significant number of fixtures each season through injury or unavailability.

Liverpool consider it crucial to have reliable and top-quality back-up to the Brazilian.

Caoimhin Kelleher, 22, is has supplanted Spaniard Adrian as Alisson's number two and kept goal in the EFL Cup win over Norwich City last month.

The Irishman, who is highly rated at Liverpool, is likely to stand in for Alisson in Saturday's Premier League clash against Watford as he is set to play for Brazil 36 hours earlier.

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