Did you know that Championship table-toppers Leeds United have never done business with Serie A challengers Fiorentina?
Not a single player has ever made the trip from West Yorkshire to Florence, or vice versa.
Leeds United have shaken plenty of hands over in Italy. John Charles, Rasmus Kristensen, Diego Llorente and Olivier Dacourt all left Elland Road for Rome. Leeds also signed the legendary Charles from Juventus back in the early-1960s. They sold Robbie Keane to Inter and brought in Roque Junior from AC Milan.
But never Fiorentina.
Though, as 2025 looms into view, The Whites and La Viola could find themselves getting acquainted at last.
According to TEAMtalk, Fiorentina are targeting Leeds’ number one Illan Meslier.
Ironically, the Frenchman was often tipped to become David de Gea’s long-term replacement at Leeds’ bitter rivals Manchester United. Now, if the rumours are trio, that is a role he could yet fulfil at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
Though, just to add another sense of peculiarity to proceedings, Fiorentina have also included on their goalkeeping wishlist a man Leeds reportedly want should Meslier depart in the near future.
Leeds United face Fiorentina battle for Illan Mesler and Caoimhin Kelleher
Despite another outstanding run of form in Liverpool’s first team, an Anfield exit feels increasingly inevitable for Caoimhin Kelleher next year.
The talented Irishman has long since spoken about his desire for regular first-team football.
Now, with Alisson re-claiming his place after returning from injury, and with Liverpool already snapping up Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia, it has never been more apparent that Kelleher must turn his back on the Premier League leaders for the good of his own career.
Of course, the Republic of Ireland international is not so much an active target, right now, and more one to watch.
One Leeds may turn to if Meslier is lured away, or if Premier League football returns to West Yorkshire next season. Kelleher, labelled ‘world-class‘ by Virgil van DIjk after a stellar showing in the EFL Cup final triumph over Chelsea, is simply too expensive, and too ambitious, to drop down to the second tier.
Also, in addition to a Fiorentina side pursuing Champions League football over in Italy, there will be no shortage of established top-flight clubs in England ready to throw their weight behind a shot-stopper who would arguably start for every other team in the country bar the one boasting a glovesman of Alisson’s presence.
Liverpool want £30m for Ireland goalkeeper Kelleher
“Kelleher is going to be very expensive,” TBR Football’s chief correspondent Graeme Bailey tells Leeds United News amid claims of a £30 million price-tag, per The Athletic.
“If you sold Meslier, he would be in the mix but a lot of teams will be after Kelleher. I imagine Leeds will be doing their homework on some goalkeepers if Meslier leaves and Kelleher will be one of them.
“He’s concentrating on Liverpool until the summer and then he will have his pick of clubs. Does he choose [Nottingham] Forest, Fulham, a mid-table Premier League team, or Champions League with Celtic?”
The good news for Leeds is that, if Daniel Farke’s side do go all in on Kelleher in 2025, that will likely coincide with Meslier’s exit. At Fiorentina, given that De Gea is almost certain to be offered a new deal after a remarkable return to form in Florence, Kelleher could find himself in an all-too familiar feeling.
Twiddling his thumbs on the sidelines, waiting for his more experienced rival to hang up those gloves.
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