Transfer News: Tottenham Hotspur interested in Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier
According to Phil Hay of the Athletic (Subscription Required), while speaking on the Phil Hay Show, Tottenham Hotspur have kept an eye on Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier.
The 22-year-old has become a mainstay at Elland Road between the sticks, be it under Marcelo Bielsa or Jesse Marsch. He has featured in 73 league games out of a possible 76 in the past two full seasons.
Aside from their starting role in a top-division European team, Meslier and Gianluigi Donnarumma of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) are both confident goalies who aren’t afraid to have a go at their defenders – most of them much older than them.
Tottenham Hotspur keeping an eye on Leeds United’s Illan Meslier. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)
Spurs need someone of that ilk if they want to replace Hugo Lloris in the near future. The Spurs legend is 35 and extended his contract at N17 until 2024 recently.
A wise move?
But he can’t keep playing on forever. Meslier, in that regard, could be a strong candidate to replace him if it comes to that in the coming years.
The Leeds star is already accustomed to life in the Premier League and with all due respect to the Whites, the Lilywhites would be a step up for him. According to Hay, Spurs have kept on him on their radar.
“There is loads of interest in [Illan] Meslier… Tottenham are a side who are particularly interested in Meslier, and obviously at some point, the goalkeeping situation is going to change there.”
on August 14, 2022. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)" class="wp-image-59894"/>Hugo Lloris joined Tottenham Hotspur from Lyon in 2012. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Meslier, in an interview with the Athletic (Subscription Required) in August 2021, revealed that he turned down a move to Chelsea in the summer of 2018- when the Blues were seemingly on the lookout for someone to replace the Real Madrid-bound Thibaut Courtois.
Leeds before the end of the summer transfer window is anyone’s guess, but one can imagine that Marsch would want to retain one of his best players as he faces the task of avoiding relegation this season.
