The January transfer window is still a couple of months away, but Leeds United are already bracing for a busy period. The club want to bring in a couple of new faces, but there are also question marks over the future of a couple of players at Elland Road.
The talk around the winter transfer window has blown up since it emerged that a couple of Saudi Pro League clubs are plotting to raid Leeds to snare Wilfried Gnonto away from Elland Road in January.
Leeds do not want to sell the Italy winger, and the player has not said anything about moving on from the club. However, the club could cash in if the Saudi clubs are ready to offer a deal worth around £30m.
However, other players at Leeds could leave the club in the winter window, and Illan Meslier is one player that the club are keen to move on when the transfer window opens in January.
Leeds United will try ‘for sure’ to sell Illan Meslier
Meslier has dropped down to third choice in the pecking order of goalkeepers at Leeds this season and is unlikely to play for the Whites again.
The Frenchman stayed put at Elland Road in the summer despite the club wanting to sell him, and there are suggestions that he could see out his contract until the end of the season to leave as a free agent.
However, journalist Graeme Bailey is insistent that Leeds will again try to sell Meslier in the winter window, and nothing has changed about their wanting to get rid of the goalkeeper
“They’re going to be trying for sure”, Bailey told Leeds United News.
“I haven’t heard anything, but again, it’s one that Leeds haven’t changed their stance on. It’s one where they want to move him on, and they will try in January.”
Leeds may have to do a Patrick Bamford and cancel Meslier’s contract in January
Inter Milan are among the clubs that are tracking Meslier, but the Serie A giants have no interest in paying a fee for the Frenchman in the winter window.
They may wait until next summer to sign the goalkeeper, when he will be a free agent. It also makes financial sense for Meslier to stay put until the summer.
Leeds may have to forget about getting a fee from his departure if they want to get rid of the goalkeeper in the winter transfer window.
They may have to pay him off and let him leave as a free agent, six months before his contract expires, if they want to move Meslier on in January.
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