Leeds United: Thomlinson slams idea of club selling Meslier to Leicester

Football Daily presenter Joe Thomlinson has slammed the rumour of Leeds United potentially selling goalkeeper Illan Meslier to Leicester City before the end of the transfer window. 

So far this summer, the Whites have had to work hard to replace two departing stars in Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha, however, another one of their key men has been linked with a possible move away, with goalkeeper Meslier wanted by the Foxes.

With just under two weeks of the transfer window left, it would seem strange for the Yorkshire club to give up one of their prize assets with such little time to find a replacement – something that Thomlinson agrees with.

Thomlinson told the Football Daily YouTube channel: “Leicester still in the hunt for a goalkeeper, their fans saying [Illan] Meslier from Leeds – not happening. Contracted until 2026, we’ve got two weeks left of the window, Leeds are not going to be selling their starting ‘keeper to you. I feel like this is pointless discussing it, not to hammer Leicester, but what’s going on there?”

TIF Thoughts on the Meslier rumours…

Unless Leeds were to receive an extortionate transfer fee for their young French ‘keeper, it is hard to see how and why they would even entertain selling Meslier with such little time left in the window to find a suitable replacement.

However, it is not surprising that Meslier is sought-after. While his stats do not put him in the best light among the world’s best – ranking in just the 65th percentile for post-shot expected goals per shot on target – he was in a Leeds side that were leaking goals for fun with a porous defence.

This is highlighted further when you see that he already ranks in the top 50 for most saves in Premier League history after just 74 games played in the top flight. At just 22, he has a long career ahead of him and has already shown to be a talented shot-stopper.

It is unsurprising that Leicester are looking at the Frenchman, but it is surely almost impossible for them to get a deal done as Leeds will be heavily relying on their No 1 to help keep them in the Premier League for another season.

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