Reports claim that Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino will try to use all his influence to drive away goalkeeper Illan Meslier from Leeds United.
Meslier, 21, has been exceptional for Leeds during his first season in the Premier League. The former France U-20 ace has kept a clean sheet eight times and has played all but one of the top-flight Whites’ matches. He has helped the Elland Road team rank 11th on the table. And his loot of 39 points with nine games to play should be enough to avoid relegation.
Meslier joined Leeds on loan from Lorient for the 2019-2020 campaign. I was behind the Spanish shooting plug Kiko Casilla in the pecking order and didn’t see much action at first.
However, after impressing with the U-23s and after Casilla’s prolonged suspension, he had a chance. And the slim keeper grabbed it with both hands, keeping seven clean sheets in 10 championship games.
That helped the Yorkshire team gain promotion by taking the second-tier title. And it has gone from strength to strength in the top flight, apparently at home in the big moment.
His form has not gone unnoticed, and Pochettino is said to be impressed with the young man. And the Argentine hopes to use his relationship with Leeds boss and compatriot Marcelo Bielsa to his advantage, according to The National.
Whether it works or not only time will tell, but there are other options for the former Tottenham boss.
Meslier an alternative to Lloris
Pochettino wants to replace the veteran Keylor Navas out of season. The 34-year-old Costa Rican international is in his second season at Parque de los Príncipes after moving from Real Madrid.
The Central American still has two years left on his contract, but he may be looking for a new club this summer. The PSG coach wants to replace a 34-year-old player with another, like Hugo lloris it is said to be their main objective.
But it will be difficult to get him away from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. From Manchester United David De Gea is another goalkeeper the Ligue 1 champions are considering.
The Spain star is in his 10th season at Old Trafford, but has received criticism this season. The 30-year-old is under pressure for his place on the side of Dean Henderson.
And rumors suggest it could be scrapped in the summer to allow the man from England to take over. But Meslier ranks high on Pochettino’s wish list despite his relative inexperience at the top tier.
Leeds will not want to lose it, with Bielsa revealing his thoughts on the gamer earlier this month.
“He is a player with personality and character and he still has room to improve,” he said. But what he has shown in the season so far qualifies as a good season.
“Not just because he is young, even if he was 30 years old, he would still be rated very well.”
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