Leeds United did some pretty good business over the summer.
Marcelo Bielsa got three of his four main targets – Helder Costa, Jack Harrison and Ben White – only missing out on Liverpool’s Ryan Kent.
Eddie Nketiah made the headlines when he completed a late loan switch from Arsenal and he’s already been scoring goals.
But there was one, more low-key, signing who was turning heads yesterday.
19-year-old goalkeeper Illan Meslier signed on a season-long loan from FC Lorient and put in a masterclass of a display for the Under-23s against Crystal Palace on Monday.
He saved a penalty and added two world-class saves, one a spectacular effort late on, as he helped secure a point in the 0-0 draw.
Here are the best reactions to Meslier’s display on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/willowlufc/status/1171153776281030663
One fan posted a video of the three standout saves from Meslier. He got down brilliantly to push away a low effort in the first half of the game, before saving a penalty. His best was at the end of the game though, as he used all of his 6tf5in frame to stop a brilliant shot from hitting the top-right corner.
Palace manager Richard Shaw was moved to concede after the game, “Their keeper has pulled off some great saves”.
https://twitter.com/DarrenDriver/status/1171151307480190977
Meslier is looking like a great understudy for Kiko ..#lufc
— stuart (@StuartWeinstoc1) September 9, 2019
On the evidence of yesterday, Leeds have a very solid back-up keeper to Kiko Casilla. It was surprising that Marcelo Bielsa didn’t play him in the EFL cup games, with Casilla playing every match so far this season.
The performance yesterday might convince Bielsa that Meslier deserves to make his senior bow in the FA Cup.
@jamma_294 Meslier is some upgrade on BPF? https://t.co/DOX3Bqsf0V
— bielsa’s lucky blue bucket ???? (@delwright21) September 9, 2019
Illan Meslier looks quite the find. Another very, very good performance today #lufc
— Nestor Watach (@NestorWatach) September 9, 2019
Dull first half, enjoyable second. Very impressed with meslier and struijk. Well needed 45 mins for Tyler Roberts. Roll on the proper stuff Sunday #lufc
— Liam Fernandez (@liamFernandez85) September 9, 2019
So, Meslier is pretty decent #LUFC
— Total Leedsball (@TotalLeedsball) September 9, 2019
https://twitter.com/SamuelBepys/status/1171060184577429505
Keep popping the match on for a couple of minutes at a time and every time I do Meslier looks absolutely awesome.
— Luke (@TurfLUFC) September 9, 2019
Meslier is unreal at saving pens
— Armo??? (@Jordan_Armo) September 9, 2019
This wasn’t the first time Meslier had saved a penalty for the Under-23s. He also stopped one in the 3-2 win against Millwall earlier in the season.
He arrived at Elland Road with experience too – 30 games for Lorient and he’s a current France Under-20 international.