Illan Meslier reacts as last-gasp deal finalised on deadline day
Illan Meslier appears to be a big fan of a late deal that was announced on deadline day.
The winter transfer window is easily the hardest of the two when it comes to bringing in new quality, with very little availability matched with massively inflated prices, making it hard for clubs to do viable deals.
Leeds United brought Facundo Buonanotte to Elland Road on loan from Brighton until the end of the season, after he had his loan spell at Chelsea cut short.
Clubs around the country were working late to finalise their business, and one side were able to conclude a deal for a player that Leeds fans will be well aware of.
Sheffield United confirm Kalvin Phillips transfer
Kalvin Phillips was loosely linked with a return to Elland Road this winter, almost four years on from his exit from Leeds United.
However, his career since then has been on a downward trajectory, and it all stems from his lack of gametime at Man City.
The 30-year-old has made just 32 appearances for the Premier League heavyweights, having spent time out on loan at West Ham and Ipswich throughout the last two years.
Now, the midfielder has sealed yet another loan exit from the Etihad, this time to Sheffield United, where he will link up with the likes of Patrick Bamford and potentially Joe Rothwell should his move from Ibrox get confirmed.
Sheffield United confirmed his arrival via an Instagram post, with Meslier and Dominic Calvert-Lewin among those to have liked the post.
Meslier was also linked with an exit from Leeds, but any deal failed to materialise before the 7pm deadline.
49ers set to answer questions that every Leeds fan wants the answer to
Leeds started the transfer window in need of a new striker and a new goalkeeper, and the Whites have ended the window with the same requirements.
It’s a strikingly similar situation to the one that left the Whites short in the summer, when they failed to conclude a late deal for Fulham’s Harry Wilson.
There is now an unnecessary amount of pressure on Calvert-Lewin to score the goals to keep Leeds in the Premier League, and perhaps too much pressure on the likes of Karl Darlow and Lucas Perri to keep them out.
Neither of Daniel Farke’s goalkeepers have shown that they are up to Premier League standards, and yet the 49ers have left him with little choice but to make the most of them.
However, once again, Leeds fans will be questioning why the Whites failed to get the necessary deals done.
Stay up to date this winter with our Leeds transfer tracker. Click to see every done deal at Elland Road, plus expert reaction from our team of writers.