Rangers have joined a trio of clubs reportedly interested in Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier. According to journalist Ekrem Konur, the French shot-stopper, who moved to Leeds from Lorient in 2020, has attracted a formal offer from his former club, with Ibrox chiefs said to be monitoring the situation closely.
New Gers head coach Russell Martin is apparently on the lookout for another goalkeeping option to compete with Liam Kelly and Jack Butland, despite the former England international’s excellent form during the opening weeks of the new season.
Meslier, 25, has fallen out of favour at Leeds, our new 49ers backed sister club, after a series of errors last season as the Whites were promoted from the EFL Championship as title winners.
Despite playing 39 matches last campaign, he has been replaced by Brazilian stopper Lucas Perri this year as Leeds returned to the English Premier League, with the new keeper arriving from French Ligue 1 side Lyon earlier this summer.
With Lorient, Meslier’s former club and Spanish La Liga giants Valencia are also interested, with the French side rumoured to have already submitted an offer for their former youth starlet.
Butland has regained the number one jersey at Ibrox this year under Martin, despite Kelly replacing the former Manchester United man at the end of last season due to the keeper’s poor run of form.
His form is back to it’s best, with the keeper producing some stunning saves, ensuring Martin remains unbeaten domestically, albeit with four consecutive league draws.
However, there have been some issues with him coming out of his area, particularly in the first leg of the Gers UEFA Champions League playoff round match with Belgian side Club Brugge, where the first goal was down to a miscommunication with the goalie and defender Nasser Djiga, allowing Romeo Vermant to chip the keeper who was stuck in no-man’s-land for the opening goal.
Martin is keen to add a keeper more renowned for their ball playing ability, with a move for Arsenal’s Estonian goalkeeper Karl Jakob Hein being rumoured earlier this summer and he may feel Meslier, despite his poor form last year, is the right option for his team moving forward.
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With Lorient submitting a permanent offer, and Rangers already with several loan players and a couple more linked, the Gers would need to pay for the Frenchman’s services.
No offer has yet been made, but with deadline day the usual circus of activity this could change in the near future.
A bold move considering the form of both keepers, but one Martin may deem necessary to improve the faltering style of play he is looking to implement at Ibrox.