Illan Meslier has displaced Kiko Casilla as Leeds United’s first choice goalkeeper this season.
The Whites made his loan stay permanent last summer and he’s started 28 league matches, missing only one tie due to illness. He’s kept nine clean sheets and conceded 49 goals in the process.
Meslier’s displays for Marcelo Bielsa’s side have seen him emerge as a target for Marseille. This is reported by Football Club de Marseille, a website that focuses their coverage on the French club.
It’s claimed Jorge Sampaoli’s side are looking for a young goalkeeper to become Steve Mandanda’s successor.
Fioretnina’s Alban Lafont [now on loan at Nantes] and Stade Brest’s Gautier Larsonneur are regularly discussed, and Meslier can be a ‘good idea’ and a ‘good pick’ to replace the 35-year-old.
The France U21 international ‘ticks all the boxes’ to take Mandanda’s place at Marseille, except one, which is his price tag. His current valuation of €17m will hold back the Ligue 1 side, especially because unnamed English clubs could be interested in the keeper.
Journalist Nicolas Filhol explains why it will be ‘almost impossible mission’ for Meslier to end up at Marseille.
“You have to forget Meslier. The guy is really having a good season in the Premier League. Leeds paid a little for him so there it is. If you want to take him from Leeds, it will be a big English club and it will not be Marseille,” he said.
