Leeds could be about to sign brilliant Illan Meslier replacement - pundit

Leeds United could be set to make a move for Crystal Palace goalkeeper Sam Johnstone after Illan Meslier’s poor performance in their opener against Portsmouth.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, ex-Scotland International Alan Hutton believes that Meslier, 24, is a ‘capable’ goalkeeper but Johnstone, 31, is an ‘outstanding’ option.

French goalkeeper Meslier caught the ire of Leeds fans after allowing himself to be beaten at the near post by Portsmouth striker Elias Sorensen for the South Coast club’s equaliser.

Johnstone has lost his place as Crystal Palace’s bonafide number-one to Dean Henderson and may be keen on the move to secure first-team football.

Illan Meslier’s Leeds United place in question after Sam Johnstone links

Meslier has been Leeds’ United’s’ undisputed first-choice goalkeeper since joining the club from French side Lorient back in 2020.

He has made 178 appearances for the club across all competitions but fans are starting to question whether he’s the right man for the job.

“I’ve seen him quite a lot, and he is more than capable of making big saves but there is that odd moment”, Hutton told Football Insider.

“When I’m playing you’ve got guys behind you that can save you, as a goalkeeper you don’t, it’s going in the back of the net.

“There was a goal (vs Portsmouth) where he got a hand to it but it still went in and these things can cost you.

“Sam Johnstone, I played with him at Aston Villa, he’s an outstanding goalkeeper but it looks like he’s just lost the number one spot at Crystal Palace so it might be something that could interest him.

“He’s a Manchester boy so Leeds isn’t that far. We’ll see how it works out but I know he is a top-quality goalkeeper.”

In other news, Leeds United ‘expect’ to complete top-class forward signing.

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The post Leeds could be about to sign brilliant Illan Meslier replacement - pundit appeared first on Football Insider.