Leeds United may have located the perfect Illan Meslier replacement in Valencia’s Giorgi Mamardashvili
Leeds United are in the race to sign Valencia goalkeeper Giorgio Mamardashvili in a £35m deal this summer and the Whites may well have located their ideal replacement for Illan Meslier.
The Georgian goalkeeper has been one of the standout performers for the La Liga outfit this season as they battle against relegation and has reportedly attracted interest from the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Leicester City in the Premier League.
And Spanish media outlet Fichajes.net claims that the Georgian also has admirers at Elland Road, and Valencia would be willing to sell the shot-stopper amid their financial troubles if a bid of around £35m was received despite his astronomical £85.7m release clause.
Leeds United number one Illan Meslier has been attracting plenty of attention over the past month or so and it’s possible that the Whites could be potentially losing him at the end of the season.
The talented youngster has been linked with big moves already in recent weeks with The Times reporting [14 March] the 23-year-old is on Chelsea’s shortlist of keepers as they seek a long-term replacement for Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Tottenham Hotspur are also said to be keeping tabs on the French Under-21 international and are reportedly likely to have the most interest as they prepare for Hugo Lloris’ eventual retirement.
And with Meslier also harbouring ambitions to be a regular for the senior France national team in the future, having featured nine times for the Under-21 side, broadcaster Eurosport [28 March] claimed the 23-year-old would need to secure a big money move to access to force himself into Didier Deschamps’ thoughts.
If the Whites suffer the ignominy of relegation at the end of the season, seeing their young shot-stopper leave may well be on the horizon but providing they remain in the English top-flight for next season, they will have already lined up an impressive replacement in 22-year-old Mamardashvili who is currently turning heads in Spain.
The “Georgian Batman” – as hailed by talent scout Jacek Kulig – having shone at the Mestalla in recent times is ready for the top level and the Georgian joining Elland Road would certainly allow fans to not worry too much about Meslier’s departure.
Despite Valencia currently fearing for their future in La Liga, the towering ace has done his utmost to try and keep the club in the top flight, having already made 81 saves in the league this season, just four behind Meslier’s total of 85.
He also appears far more ready to spring off his line in order to deny an opponent as he ranks in the top 18% [FBRef} among his European peers for an average distance of defensive actions – meaning the distance from goal of all defensive actions – while Meslier has been more rooted to his goal line, as he ranks in the top 24% [FBRef] in that regard.
Equally, despite the plight of his current side, it is actually Mamardashvili who has conceded fewer goals than the current Leeds United man (34 vs 54), as well as enjoying a better save per game average (2.9 vs 2.8).
With that said, it’s interesting to note that the Whites are keeping tabs on another top young talent in the goalkeeper position and they will be right in the mix for his signature if they need it during the summer.
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