Leeds United have now identified a £20m goalkeeper as their top target to replace Illan Meslier this summer, journalist Marco Giordano has revealed.
Leeds set to bring in replacement for Meslier
With Karl Darlow replacing Meslier between the sticks at the back end of last season, The Athletic’s Phil Hay believes the Frenchman is “done” at Elland Road, saying: “Meslier, I struggle to see being first choice at Leeds again. I might be wrong. But the way in which it has happened this season, dropping out of the team on the back of two or three years of downward spiral.
“It makes you think he needs a fresh start and Leeds need to go after a new first-choice goalkeeper. I’d be really surprised if they don’t. I feel like he’s done.”
Since then, Daniel Farke’s side have gone on to identify a number of potential targets, with recent reports suggesting they have even submitted a £6m bid for Fenerbahce’s Dominik Livakovic, who has been identified as a potential alternative to Torino’s Vanja Milinkovic-Savic.
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In a recent update on X, Giordona has revealed that Leeds’ pursuit of Milinkovic-Savic has faded, perhaps given the rival interest from Serie A champions Napoli, who are now in a position to negotiate with Torino.
As such, Leeds have identified a different goalkeeper as their “top choice” to replace Meslier this summer, namely Lyon’s Lucas Perri, who is set to be available for a fee of around £20m, given that his current employers have faced significant financial issues.
There could be stiff competition for Perri’s signature, however, with Premier League rivals Newcastle United also identifying the Lyon shot-stopper as a potential alternative to Burnley’s James Trafford earlier this week.
“Best in the world” Perri could be ideal Meslier replacement
Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca would seemingly be very disappointed to lose his goalkeeper, considering the 52-year-old lauded him as the “best in the world” after he put in a remarkable display in a 2-0 victory against OGC Nice back in March.
On that day, the Brazilian made three saves from inside the box to keep Nice at bay and pick up a clean sheet, in what was one of many solid displays throughout the 2024-25 campaign, having also put in a top performance against Saint Étienne.
Fonseca isn’t the only person who has been left impressed by the 27-year-old in recent times either, with football scout Ben Mattinson lauding him as a “top” and “undervalued” goalkeeper back in March.
It is clear that Leeds need to replace Meslier this summer, given that his mistakes nearly cost his side promotion to the Premier League last season, and Perri has proven he could be a solid replacement, so it is promising news that he has emerged as the top target.
