The Yorkshire Evening Post have claimed that Leeds United are to complete the signing of Illan Meslier on a season-long loan from French second-tier side Lorient before ‘lunchtime’ on Thursday.
The 19-year-old goalkeeper is set to put pen to paper at Elland Road, after the France youth international was identified by Victor Orta and Marcelo Bielsa as a replacement for Bailey Peacock-Farrell.
The Northern Ireland international has moved to Premier League side Burnley and 6ft 6in goalkeeper Meslier – who has been linked with Chelsea (Goal) in the past – will join the Whites as per the report to replace Peacock-Farrell.
Meslier represented France’s Under-20 side at the World Cup in the summer, and has clocked up 30 appearances for Lorient at senior level. In that time, he has conceded just 32 goals and kept 11 clean sheets for the Ligue 2 side.
The goalkeeper will become Leeds’ fifth summer signing, after bringing Jack Harrison from Manchester City, Jack Clarke from Tottenham Hotspur, Ben White from Brighton and Helder Costa from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Leeds are expected to be busy on deadline day and will be looking to bring in a replacement for Kemar Roofe before the window slams shut at 5pm. Eddie Nketiah is said to be that man, while Ryan Kent has also been linked.
