The chances are that Leeds United will not be particularly busy in the January window, but possible exits could mean The Whites need to do some replacing and Rennes want to raid Leeds again.
Rewind to the summer, and Leeds rubber-stamped the exit of midfielder Glen Kamara. Just 12 months at Leeds saw the Whites almost double their money on a £5m signing made from Scottish side Rangers.
He joined Ligue 1 outfit Rennes for a fee of £8.5m. Kamara played 42 times for Leeds, played well in the middle of the park and The 49ers made a quick profit but now, Rennes are back and want another.
Leeds United star wanted by Glen Kamara’s Rennes in January
Chilean manager Jorge Sampaoli is forced to deal with replacing veteran goalkeeper Steve Mandanda, who is out of contract at the end of the season and at 39, Rennes need a new long-term option.
French outlet Jeunes Footeux report that Leeds stopper Illan Meslier is one of two options on their list. Meslier of course has been in solid form for Leeds this season, clocking up 11 clean sheets in 19 games.
A move would see Meslier, who is now one of two vice-captains at Leeds behind Ethan Ampadu, return to France after five years at Elland Road. The other on the list is PSV’s Argentine goalkeeper Walter Benitez.
Sampaoli is keen on signing a goalkeeper next month and with only two goalkeepers on Rennes’ shortlist, if the report is to be believed, Meslier could well be on his way back to French football in a few weeks.
Illan Meslier has clean sheets, but the stats don’t reflect well
While Meslier sits right at the top of the Championship in terms of clean sheets, joint-first with Sheffield United’s Michael Cooper and Burnley’s James Trafford. But delve a little deeper, and it is a slight worry.
Leeds have been able to dictate games, to control matches certainly at home and it stifles opponents. It stops them having shots at Meslier’s goal and that has played a big part in Meslier keeping clean sheets.
However, while Trafford and Cooper are the best two goalkeepers in the Championship in terms of the percentage of shots saved, Meslier is way down in 13th – stopping just 67.5% of the efforts on his goal.
While the grass might not always be greener if Leeds were to sell Meslier, the Frenchman is not the best goalkeeper in the Championship and could be replaced if Leeds were to rake in a decent fee from Rennes.
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