Leeds face a stunning repeat of Kalvin Phillips in 2025

Leeds United The team maintained their place in the automatic promotion places on Saturday with a 4-0 thrashing of Oxford United at Elland Road.

The white team achieved comfortable victories in championship A match against Oxford without a manager, whose new coach Gary Rowett was not appointed in time to manage the match.

Goals from Dan James, Jayden Bogle, Brenden Aaronson and Manor Solomon secured the three points for the West Yorkshire side, who remain three points behind Sheffield United in the title race.

Daniel Wake He hopes that his team can continue its great level so far and avoid a playoff battle again, after his team lost in the playoff final at the end of last season.

The January transfer window will officially open for business next week and the German coach can look 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 lose players from their squad amid interest from some Premier League teams ahead of the next window.

The Premier League giants are eyeing the Leeds player

According to The SunManchester United are eyeing a potential deal to sign Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier in the January transfer window.

The report claims that the Premier League giants are looking for a second goalkeeper to come in and compete with Andre Onana for the number one shirt at Old Trafford, giving their first choice real competition for his place in the second half of the season. season.

It states that goalkeeping scout, Tony Cotton, likes the French goalkeeper and that the Red Devils are monitoring the player's performance in the Whites' Championship this season.

The Sun reports That Cotton regularly attended matches to watch the former Lorient player and that Meslier is seen as one of Manchester United's future.

It also reveals that the Premier League side would prefer to wait until the end of the season to make a move for the League Two keeper, but they may also be forced to sign him in January if their current second choice, Altay Binder, attracts transfer interest from elsewhere.

However, there is no mention of whether or not Leeds would be open to a deal for United in January, or how much they want Meslier if they decide to part ways with him before the second half of the 2024/25 campaign.

Farke and the 49ers must now capitalize on Manchester United's interest in the failed Frenchman by ruthlessly taking advantage of him if an offer for his services comes along, be it in January or in the summer – regardless of promotion.

Although it may have come under different circumstances, Leeds could replicate the success they had in selling Kalvin Phillips by capitalizing on Meslier.

The success of Kalvin Phillips, Leeds United player

In the summer of 2022, Manchester City rushed to sign the England international from the Whites, who were playing in the English Premier League at the time, for a contract. The reported fee is £45 million.

He had He made 234 matches Leeds in all competitions, after rising through the academy system, and the club appeared to sell him at the right time, as his form dipped in his second season in the Premier League.

As you can see in the table above, Phillips' form in his first season in the Premier League was much better than his performance the second time around.

Despite a significant decline in form, Manchester City are still bidding to agree a £45m deal to sign him at the end of the 2021/22 season, and this sale has turned out to be something of a surprise on the part of the Whites.

At the time of writing (23/12/2024), FootballTransfers Phillips is valued at just €9 million (£7.4m) This is a stunning decline after failing to do so

He has established himself at the Etihad and is currently on loan at Ipswich Town, having spent time on loan with West Ham last season.

Leeds can now repeat their success by selling the England midfielder by cashing in on Meslier, who has done little to suggest he would flourish at one of the Premier League's giants.

Why should Leeds sell Illan Meslier?

If Manchester United make a serious bid for the French goalkeeper, Farke must ruthlessly cash in on the failed 24-year-old, who has not done enough at Premier League or Championship level to justify a big-money move.

Since the start of the 2023/24 season, the Frenchman has conceded 3.9 more than expected in the second tier, based on shot after shot, showing that he has underperformed as a goalkeeper in the league. Championship over the last 18 months or so.

Meslier, who once was Describing it as a “responsibility” By journalist David Kent He was dropped from the Premier League by Leeds at the end of the 2022/23 season, having also struggled as a top-flight goalkeeper.

As you can see in the table above, the left-footer has conceded more than would be expected from the average goalkeeper in each of the past five seasons, at Championship and Premier League level.

Onana, Manchester United's current first choice, admitted: 5.5 lower than expected Since the start of last season in the top flight, suggesting that Meslier is nowhere near as good as the Cameroon international when it comes to saving quality shots.

This therefore indicates that the Frenchman will go to Old Trafford and be lost on the bench, as Phillips did in Manchester City, and his value will decline by not playing much, unless his level over the past five seasons improves radically.

Therefore, Leeds could play Blinder and replicate Phillips' success by cashing in on Meslier amid interest from the Red Devils in January.