Man Utd eye move for ‘great’ Leeds United star ahead of January transfer window

Manchester United have revived their transfer interest in ‘great’ Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier ahead of the January transfer window, according to reports.

The Red Devils are keen to recruit a new ‘keeper to challenge Andre Onana for the No.1 spot and Meslier has become a target, The Sun have reported.

Meslier attracted interest from United in 2021 and the 24-year-old Frenchman was again linked with a switch to Old Trafford in 2023.

Red Devils goalkeeping scout Tony Coton is thought to be a huge fan of Meslier – having watched him regularly at Elland Road – viewing him as an ideal replacement for Altay Bayindir if he leaves the club in January.

Leeds manager Daniel Farke has described Meslier as a ‘great shot-saver’ and has declared him the ‘best keeper in the league’ this season.

Meslier has kept 12 clean sheets across 22 Championship appearances this term in the second tier of English football – the second-best tally at that level.

He has played a total of 197 games for Leeds to date, having joined the club from French side Lorient in a deal worth just £5m in 2020.

It was reported in the last summer transfer window that Leeds wanted in excess of £20m in order to sell Meslier, who is under contract until 2026.

But Leeds may now look to secure a bigger fee following comments from their chief executive Angus Kinnear.

Speaking on the The Square Ball in September, a podcast about Leeds, Kinnear revealed that the club had rejected a summer bid for Meslier.

‘We could’ve taken an offer for Illan, which would’ve been in the mid 20s,’ the Leeds chief executive said. ‘If we [were] in a position where we needed to cash in, we would’ve done.’

United are also keeping tabs on Botafogo goalkeeper John Victor Maciel Furtado – simply known as John – as an alternative option to Meslier.

If Bayindir does not exit Old Trafford in January, it is likely that United’s hunt for a new goalkeeper will be pushed back until the summer of 2025.