Former All Leeds TV presenter Joe Wainman has hailed Kristoffer Klaesson as an astute signing by Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa.
Klaesson has joined the Premier League club from Norwegian side Valerenga in a transfer believed to be worth £1million.
The 20-year-old goalkeeper will provide competition for Leeds’ current first-choice shot-stopper Illan Meslier, who has revealed he passed up the opportunity to join Chelsea just 12 months before linking up with the Whites.
Is Kristoffer Klaesson a shrewd signing for Leeds?
Yes
No
Having made his loan move to Leeds permanent last summer, Meslier went on to make 35 appearances last season and is looking to build on a promising debut campaign in English football’s top flight.
The 21-year-old’s impressive form drew links to Paris Saint-Germain prior to the end of the campaign and the French giants’ subsequent move for Euro 2020 winner Gianluigi Donnarumma following the expiry of his AC Milan contract.
However, Wainman thinks it is only a matter of time before one of European football’s elite sides come calling for Meslier and believes Klaesson’s arrival means Leeds are in a good position.
He told TIF: “The thing that excites me about Klaesson is Leeds United enquired about him back in 2019, when we brought Illan Meslier to the club. That makes me think, had they not got Meslier, they rated this goalkeeper highly enough to bring him in at the same sort of level.
“For me, Illan Meslier is top drawer and PSG have enquired about him in the past. We paid £5million for him and there will come a time when a Champions League comes in for this kid for big money.
“We then have a ready-made replacement in Kristoffer Klaesson, who we have paid £1million for. I think it’s really astute business by the club.”