Many Leeds United fans have called on the club to make a permanent move for keeper Illan Meslier after watching him impress on loan this term.
The French shot stopper arrived on loan from Ligue 1 side Lorient last summer, hauled in by Marcelo Bielsa to provide adequate cover for Spaniard Kiko Casilla.
Casilla has played the majority of Leeds’ games this season, but with a recent ban seeing the former Real Madrid man ruled out, Meslier has taken his chance in between the sticks.
Featuring twice in the Championship thus far, Meslier has impressed, keeping two clean sheets, whilst the youngster also impressed during the FA Cup tie with Premier League giants Arsenal.
Casilla will want to return from his recent suspension and wrestle his number one spot back, but Leeds fans are still keen to see a permanent move for Meslier this coming summer.
Despite Casilla’s number one spot, it has been suggested (The Sun on Sunday, 26/5, page 69) that the Spanish keeper could be set for a summer exit, but those claims remain un-confirmed.
Leeds are understood to have a permanent option for Meslier, having installed a reported £5m option to buy clause in the 20-year-old’s loan contract last summer.
Speaking in a recent interview, Leeds player Barry Douglas weighed in on Meslier’s quality and impressions on the rest of the squad, leaving fans to call for a summer move and heap praise on the keeper.
Below are just some of the responses gained via Twitter account FocusOnLeeds, with one fan even comparing him to the great Iker Casillas:
Just watched @TalkingShutt interview with Barry Douglas, which was great btw. Surprise by the comments of Meslier being such a character, not something you’d expect. Interview here, go check it out: https://t.co/VZam3FoLMb #LUFC
— FocusOnLeeds (@FocusOnLeeds) April 13, 2020
Meslier is 100% a player we need to bring in permanently, at a such a young age to be as calm and composed in a totally different environment as he is takes some mentality. Has all the attributes to be our number one for years.
— FocusOnLeeds (@FocusOnLeeds) April 13, 2020
Our Iker Casillas
— 1919 – Bielsa 💙💛 (@aclr1972) April 13, 2020
Yeh he’s definitely not our Kiko Casilla 😂
— Tom Roberts (@TeezerFCDesignz) April 13, 2020
He’s awesome
— IsThatConfirmed (@IsThatConfirmed) April 13, 2020
Totally agree. Massive future
— Niall wright (@Niallwright5) April 13, 2020
Think he could be top tier if he works hard!
— Ross D (@news_leeds) April 14, 2020
I’d go further than 100%. I’d go the full Priti Patel percent.
— D Young (@statto99) April 13, 2020
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