Leeds United 'seek increase' on £3.8m first offer as Illan Meslier 'in contact' over Marseille move — YEP 4/7/24
By Kyle Newbould
If Leeds United enjoyed a slow and steady start to the
summer transfer window then things have certainly been kicked up a notch over
the past week. Last weekend’s PSR deadline made activity inevitable and the
£40million sale of Archie Gray to Tottenham Hotspur satisfied the club’s
accounts, if not supporters. Joe Rodon came the other way in a £10m deal after
last season’s loan spell and somewhat placated fans, but 49ers Enterprises will
have to follow that up with more shrewd business between now and the end of
August.
While the sale of Gray pulled on the heartstrings of all
involved at Elland Road, the YEP understands Leeds are now much better-placed
regarding potential exits, with those in charge not actively looking to sell
the likes of Crysencio Summerville, Wilfried Gnonto or any others who have
caught the eye elsewhere. There is still plenty to do as Daniel Farke prepares
for another Championship promotion push and the YEP has rounded up some of the
latest headlines surrounding the club.
Diego Llorente’s future is looking almost certain to be away
from Elland Road but reports in Spain suggest Leeds are not rolling over in
negotiations with Real Betis. Diario de Sevilla report that after rejecting an
opening bid worth around €4.5million (£3.8m), the Whites continue to hold out
for a fee closer to their valuation and are ‘not easy’ to deal with.
Llorente has spent the past 18 months on loan at Serie A
outfit Roma but despite playing regularly and impressing new manager Daniele De
Rossi, the defender’s time in Italy looks to have come to an end. He could be
set to join Marc Roca in Spain, however, with Betis identifying the 30-year-old
as a key target to fill a gap in central defence. They sent an opening offer
earlier this week but saw it swiftly knocked back.
Betis remain ‘optimistic’ they can agree a fee with Leeds
and recent claims have even suggested personal terms have been agreed on a
four-year deal. But this most recent report adds that Leeds are ‘reluctant’ to
drop their valuation. Nonetheless, talks between both clubs are continuing and
there is hope Llorente can become a Betis player before this summer’s
pre-season trip to Austria, which begins on July 10.
Illan Meslier is one of two goalkeepers reportedly being
eyed by Olympique Marseille, with the Leeds man ‘enthusiastic’ regarding the
prospect of a return to France. La Provence report that contact has already
been made between player and club although interest is in its early stages and
there is no mention of talks between Marseille and Leeds.
Meslier is among a group of Leeds players to have attracted
interest following failure to achieve promotion back to the Premier League, but
reports going into the summer were more focused on the likes of Summerville,
Gray and Gnonto. The 24-year-old has now emerged as a candidate to replace
Marseille’s Pau Lopez, although the French side are thought to prefer a move
for RC Lens shot-stopper Brice Samba.
The report adds that Meslier’s current contract at Leeds,
which runs until 2026, contains a ‘fairly high’ release clause - although it
then adds that Marseille would ideally negotiate a lower fee. As with the likes
of Summerville and Gnonto, Leeds are not actively looking to sell their
first-choice goalkeeper.
