Illan Meslier’s future in the Leeds United team is under the scanner following his poor performance at Hull City last weekend. It seems the mistakes he made were the last straw that broke the camel’s back and Daniel Fare is considering bringing in a new goalkeeper. Caoimhin Kelleher has been linked with a move to Elland Road but there are doubts whether the Whites can convince the Liverpool goalkeeper to drop down to the Championship. Leeds are also interested in River Plate goalkeeper Jeremias Ledesma who has emerged as a real option in the January transfer window. The Yorkshire giants are considering getting their hands on him and his experience could prove valuable if he moves to Elland Road this month.
Meslier dropped a couple of clangers at the MKM Stadium last weekend, costing Leeds two precious points against Hull City. The Frenchman’s place in the team has come under serious threat. Daniel Farke is considering bringing in a new goalkeeper in the winter transfer window.
He is unlikely to be in the team when Leeds take on Harrowgate Town in the FA Cup on Saturday evening but that is expected as Farke will heavily rotate his squad.
However, the more telling selection will be next weekend when Leeds host Sheffield Wednesday and it will be interesting to see whether Meslier will be in the team for the Yorkshire derby.
Leeds are considering bringing in a new goalkeeper and Liverpool’s Kelleher has been linked with a potential loan move to Elland Road in the winter window.
However, a deal would be complicated to pull off and River Plater’s 31-year-old goalkeeper Ledesma has emerged as a major option for the Whites this month.
Leeds United want some experience and Ledesma has that
Meslier has been the undisputed number one at Leeds United since breaking into the team in the latter half of the 2019/20 season and the club never had a goalkeeper who was good enough to challenge him for a place in the team.
It has led to some complacency and mistakes have crept into his game. He either needs to be replaced or at least get taken out of the firing line for the time being.
Leeds would want experience between the sticks if they bring in a new goalkeeper and the 31-year-old Ledesma is someone who has played at the top level.
He left Spanish side Cadiz when they got relegated from La Liga last season but he has the experience of playing at the top level of Spanish football.
Ledesma saved close to 70 percent of the shots he faced when he was at Cadiz last season, which is a solid rate for a goalkeeper who played for a side that finished 18th in La Liga.
It is also a bigger number than Meslier’s save percentage this season, which is telling as the Frenchman plays for one of the top sides in the Championship and has a solid defence ahead of him.
If not Kelleher, Ledesma would be a solid signing for Leeds given his experience and the way he performed for Cadiz in Spain last season.
Will he need time to adapt to English football?
Signing players in the winter window is complicated as the new arrivals do not get the time needed to adapt to their new surroundings and teammates.
Championship clubs prefer to bring in someone who has experience in English football as that’s one less thing they need to worry about in the middle of the season.
Ledesma has played in Spain’s top tier but English football is very different and the Championship is a far more difficult league to adapt to given it’s unpredictability.
Goalkeepers also get less protection from referees in England than in Spanish football and Ledesma would have to adapt to the more physical side of goalkeeping in English football.
Leeds need someone who can make an instant impact and they would want to be completely sure if they bring in a goalkeeper from Argentina in the middle of the season.
Ledesma is apparently ready to return to European football and is believed to be keen on a move to Leeds if they can come up with an offer for him.
It remains to be seen whether the Yorkshire giants are prepared to trigger a bid for the 31-year-old before the window closes on 3rd February.
