Graham Smyth explains reason behind Leeds United transfer as deal close - YEP 5/8/22
Jesse Marsch is said to be closing in on a deal to add another new face to his squad.
By Mark Carruthers
Graham Smyth believes Leeds United’s bid to add an
experienced goalkeeper to their squad will ‘provide a bit of reassurance’ for
manager Jesse Marsch as a deal for Joel Robles moves closer.
Highly-rated France Under-21 international Illan Meslier has
cemented his place as the Whites number one after impressing since he moved to
Elland Road in a £5.85million move from Lorient just over two years ago.
But the departures of Kiko Casilla and youngster Elia
Caprile and the serious injury suffered by Under-21s’ stopper Dani van den
Heuvel has depleted Marsch’s goalkeeping options during the summer months.
Norway international Kristoffer Klaesson made his Premier
League debut last season when he replaced the injured Meslier during the
dramatic 3-2 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers in March.
But he remains the only backup option for Meslier ahead of
the new season and YEP chief football writer Graham Smyth believes the time is
right to add competition for Klaesson and a more experienced backup for
Meslier.
Speaking on the latest episode of the Inside Elland Road
podcast, he said: “An experienced backup just makes sense, it’s just a sensible
insurance policy.
“Klaesson, when he came in against Wolves last season, he
made a couple of great saves, he arguably looked far better in that Premier
League cameo than he had in Premier League 2 football, where his adaptation
period was still ongoing towards the end of the season.
“There is also the point to be made that he wasn’t as well
protected as he could have been, maybe wasn’t as protected as Meslier was when
he played in the 23s.
“But Klaesson just didn’t give off the vibe of a player
ready to jump straight in if the number one goalkeeper wasn’t available.
“So in terms of pushing Illan, in terms of providing a bit
of reassurance if the keeper picks up a problem, I think an experienced number
two just makes sense and that’s what we are expecting next week.”
Spanish goalkeeper Joel Robles is close to joining Marsch’s
squad after his four-year stay at La Liga club Real Betis came to an end
earlier this summer.
The 32-year-old comes with Premier League experience after
spending time with both Wigan Athletic and Everton making 51 appearances over
his spells with both clubs.
The YEP’s Leeds United journalist Joe Donnohue believes
adding ‘a little bit more experience’ to the goalkeeping ranks will be ‘a
prudent move’ for Whites boss Marsch.
He explained: “Adding any number two, it doesn’t even matter
if it’s an experienced player, adding another goalkeeper is a sensible move.
“It’s probably quite necessary given Kiko Casilla and Elia
Caprile have both left the club, Dani van den Heuvel is unavailable for the
foreseeable future.
“That leaves Meslier and Klaesson, who has that slight ankle
injury, or a slight ankle knock that Marsch alluded to.
“That probably won’t keep him out of the squad and then you
have Harry Christie, who went on tour of Australia, so it’s not exactly looking
as deep a position as it has in previous seasons.
“So bringing somebody in with a little bit more experience
is probably a prudent move, to use a phrase used by Marsch in his presser
today.”
