Leeds United Oxford United retained their automatic promotion spot with a 4-0 win at Elland Road on Saturday.

The white team won the match easily championship There was a clash with a coachless Oxford side, whose new head coach Gary Rowett was not appointed in time to manage the game.

Goals from Dan James, Jayden Bogle, Brenden Aaronson and Mano Solomon helped the West Yorkshire side take all three points as they trail Sheffield United in the title race Three points.

Daniel Wake After losing in the play-off final at the end of last season, he hopes his side can continue their impressive form so far and avoid falling into the play-offs again.

The January transfer window officially opens next week and the German manager is likely to use the market to strengthen his squad to give them the best chance of success in the second half of the season.

However, the Whites could also be without players as a number of Premier League sides have shown interest ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

Premier League giants eye Leeds United players

According to “The Sun”Manchester United are considering a move to sign Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier in the January transfer window.

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Reports suggest that the Premier League giants are looking for a second goalkeeper to compete with Andre Onana for the No. 1 jersey at Old Trafford, in order to truly compete with their first-choice goalkeeper for a second-half spot. season.

Reports claim that their goalkeeper scout Tony Cotton likes the French goalkeeper and the Red Devils have been keeping a close eye on the player’s performance in this season’s Whites Championship.

“The Sun” reports Cotton regularly attends the former Lorient youngster’s games, while Meslier is seen as one of United’s future prospects.

It also suggests that the Premier League side would prefer to wait until the end of the season to make a move for the Second Division goalkeeper, but they could also be forced to move for him in January if their current second-choice option is Altay Bayindil. Attract transfer interest from elsewhere.

However, there was no mention of whether Leeds would be willing to do business with United in January, or how much they would expect from Meslier if they decide to part ways with him before the second half of the 2024/25 season. Activity.

Now Falke and the 49ers must capitalize on United’s interest in the French dud and ruthlessly cash in on him if an offer comes in, either in January or in the summer, promotion or not .

While things will be different, Leeds could repeat the success they had with Kalvin Phillips by offloading Meslier.

Leeds United’s Calvin Phillips success

In the summer of 2022, Manchester City signed the England international from the Whites, who were in the Premier League at the time. Reported costs of £45m.

he has 234 appearances After coming through the academy system, he excelled in all competitions for Leeds United and the club seemed to be selling him at the perfect time as his form dipped in his second top-flight season.

As can be seen from the table above, Phillips’ performance in his first Premier League season was significantly better than his second season.

Despite his dramatic decline in form, City still agreed to sign him for £45 million at the end of the 2021/22 season, a deal that proved to be a deception for the Whites.

As of the time of writing (December 23, 2024), FootballTransfers Phillips is valued at just €9 million (£7.4m), a staggering drop as he failed to

Having established himself at the Etihad, he is now on loan at Ipswich Town after spending last season on loan at West Ham United.

Now, Leeds United can repeat their success with the England midfielder by offloading Meslier, who has done nothing to suggest he would thrive at the Premier League giants.

Why Leeds United should sell Illan Meslier

If United make a serious bid for the French goalkeeper, Farke should be ruthless in cashing in on the 24-year-old dud who hasn’t performed enough at Premier League or Championship level to justify a big-money transfer. reasonable.

Since the start of the 2023/24 season, the Frenchman has conceded 3.9 more goals than expected in the second tier based on xG after shooting, indicating his poor performance as a goalkeeper in the second tier. Champions for the last 18 months or so.

Meslier was Described as “responsibility” Journalist David Kent was relegated from the Premier League with Leeds United at the end of the 2022/23 season after also struggling as a goalkeeper in the top flight.

As you can see in the table above, the left-footed stopper has conceded more goals than the average goalkeeper would have expected over the past five seasons, in both the Championship and the Premier League.

Manchester United’s current first choice Onana has conceded a goal 5.5 less than expected His performances in the top flight since the start of last season have shown that Meslier is far inferior to the Cameroon international when it comes to saving quality shots.

It therefore suggests that the Frenchman will head to Old Trafford and waste time on the bench, much like Phillips did at Manchester City, and reduce value by not playing too many games unless he has been in form over the past five seasons been greatly improved.

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Leeds could therefore repeat their success with Phillips by cashing in on Meslier despite the Red Devils’ interest in him in January.