Arsenal are plotting a potential January swoop for a mainstay of Leeds United’s current promotion chasing team.
Leeds sit second in the Championship heading into the festive period and will be reluctant to lose anyone from their squad when the transfer window opens next month.
However, that certainly hasn’t stopped players from being linked with moves away. Patrick Bamford is the latest touted for the exit door amid interest from Genoa and Wrexham.
Bamford has been on the fringes so far this season, though, and his departure wouldn’t be too much of a blow if Leeds can find a good replacement.
Max Wober, Joe Gelhardt, Illan Meslier and Junior Firpo are all also reportedly targets elsewhere, Daniel Farke’s wish for a quiet January means Gelhardt is the only one likely to leave of that quartet.
Arsenal eyeing swoop for Leeds’ Illan Meslier
Having said that about Meslier, goalkeeper is certainly a position Leeds could upgrade on considering some of the mistakes he has made this season.
His error at Sunderland is one which springs to mind immediately, but he also should’ve done better for goals against the likes of Portsmouth and Preston North End.
Rennes are interested in Meslier ahead of January but according to journalist Steve Kay, they are set to be joined in the race by Arsenal.
Kay was speaking on KS1 TV where he was asked about Arsenal’s upcoming transfer plans for next month, specifically name dropping Meslier as a name he’s heard.
David Raya is firmly Mikel Arteta’s number one at this stage but they could be in the market for a new backup given their current understudy Neto is only on loan from Bournemouth.
As such, Kay revealed Meslier is someone to keep an eye on, and a move to the Emirates could see him reunite with former Leeds teammate Ben White.
Kay said: “There’s a few. Arsenal are looking at a goalkeeper. Possibly a goalkeeper could come in in January. I have been given a name. The Leeds goalkeeper is someone I’ve been told. I need to look into that. It’s not from one of my top sources if you like, but it’s one we’re keeping an eye on. Illan Meslier.”
Leeds should be open to Meslier sale in January
It seems highly unlikely Farke will want to replace his number one at the midway point of the season, but it could genuinely be the difference between winning promotion and not.
Meslier has let Leeds down too many times already this season and there are plenty better on the market they could sign as an upgrade, for a cheaper price the Frenchman could leave for.
One that immediately springs to mind is Carl Rushworth, who is currently on loan at Hull City from Brighton, where he hasn’t played.
Leeds should ask Brighton to recall him early and sign him for the rest of the season, with the evidence of his loan spell at Swansea City last season enough to show he is better than Meslier.
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