Leeds name their price for Meslier - MOT Forum 26/5/23
By Ellandback1
Good Morning. It's Monday 26th June, and here are the latest
headlines from Elland Road...
Leeds name their price for Meslier
Leeds have slapped a £30m price tag on Shot-stopper Illan
Meslier. The 23 year old is renowned as being one of his best young keepers in
the World, and even though he had a poor campaign last season, he is expected
to be high on the wish list, of many top Europe sides.
Data compiled from 'FBref' give the young Frenchman a 'PSxG
minus goals metric' (the calculation showing opportunities keepers should have
saved) of -12.4, placing him 26th out of 27. His shambolic defence did little
to inspire confidence. Only Max Wober and Robin Koch come through the season
with any sense of dignity. If truth be told, the remainder should be embarrassed
by their performances of last season.
Leeds linked to four shot-stoppers
With Meslier in the shop window, and Robles released back in
the wilderness, Leeds need ready made replacements. Klaesson, Van Den Heuvel
and Christy are untested at first team level, and Leeds will need a safe pair
of hands between the sticks, if they are to win promotion back to the top
flight.
Karl Darlow (32, Newcastle Utd), Viktor Johansson (24,
Rotherham) Freddie Woodman (26, Preston) and Marek Rodak (26, Fulham) have all
been linked with Summer moves to Elland Road, but as of yet, nothing concrete
is in place. Shot-stopping is only part of a keepers responsibility these days.
Leeds will want a No 1 with good distribution abilities to launch quick fire
counter-attacks, something their present goalies have failed at miserably in
recent times.
Kristensen set to follow Llorente to Roma
Weeks after pledging his allegiance to Leeds, it looks like
Rasmus Kristensen could be following Diego Llorente to Roma. The 25yo, a £10m
purchase from RB Salzburg twelve months ago, made 26 appearances last season,
netting three times (one less than Bamford). He took in in turns, challenging
Ayling for the No 3 shirt, though in reality, both lacked anaerobic pace, and
got turned more times than a wheel!
Just like Llorente, Kristensen is likely to leave on loan,
but Leeds want to include a clause that will lead to a permanent move. Leeds
have already had their fingers burnt once by 'i Lupi' (the Wolves). It was
expected that Diego Llorente's January loan move, would conclude with an £18m
permanent transfer, yet it never materialised. He signed a three and a half
year extension to his contract last December, a baffling decision which the
Elland Road hierarchy are now regretting.
