Tottenham Hotspur are keeping tabs on Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier as a long-term transfer target, according to football journalist Phil Hay.
Tottenham’s current number one Hugo Lloris, 35, is under contract in north London until the summer of 2024 (Spurs official) having already completed a decade with the club following his move from Lyon in 2012.
Fabio Paratici brought in Pierluigi Gollini last year on a season-long loan deal from Atalanta, however, the Italian international failed to push Lloris for the starting berth between the posts with Spurs instead turning their attentions to former Southampton shot-stopper Fraser Forster to become his understudy this season.
Hay made reference that Tottenham’s goalkeeping situation given the fact Lloris is in the final years of his career will change down the line when they turn their attentions elsewhere to replace the World Cup winner.
Meslier originally moved to Elland Road on a season-long loan from Lorient, before signing permanently a year later and signed a new long-term deal last summer to keep him under contract until 2026 (Leeds United official).
Speaking on The Phil Hay Show on The Athletic, he said: “There is loads and loads of interest in Meslier. I do feel like he’s going to be one of Leeds’ most important and probably best players this season,”
“Tottenham are a side who are particularly interested in Meslier. And obviously, at some point the goalkeeping situation is going to change there.”
Our View
It is sensible for Tottenham to have their eyes on the future given the fact that Lloris is in the twilight of his career and with the greatest respect to Forster, he is unlikely to move into the number one shirt.
Meslier has already amassed a vast amount of first-team experience given his relatively young age and could become an attractive proposition for Spurs a year or two down the line.
