Phil Hay claims display of one man v Arsenal has changed Jan transfer hunt, one player now close
It looks like Leeds United are after a maximum of three new players this January – and one could be very close to arriving.
Talking recently in the Athletic, Phil Hay said, “What I’m told, it’ll be a striker if Nketiah goes, a winger to replace Clarke and potentially an experienced keeper to sit on the bench behind Meslier if Casilla picks up a racism ban.”
The number might have stayed the same but the assured display of Illan Meslier on Monday against Arsenal has seemingly convinced Marcelo Bielsa and Victor Orta to switch tack on the goalkeeper.
According to Phil Hay on Tuesday, Meslier inspired “very high levels of confidence” against Arsenal and Leeds have decided to get a young goalkeeper instead.
According to a report in Italian outlet L’Arena, that’s going to be 18-year-old Elia Caprile from Chievo Verona – someone Hay describes as “a good prospect”.
L’Arena claims that Bielsa has already said he’ll have a place in the Leeds Under-23s side and the report says he’s got “a foot and a half on the plane” to Leeds.
Caprile hasn’t made a senior appearance for his side yet and he came up through their youth ranks.
He could well be the first player to arrive at Leeds in January, with the two outfield players – a winger and a striker – to come.
This doesn’t come as a surprise to us. Meslier was simply fantastic on Monday night – as good a debut from a 19-year-old keeper as you’re likely to see.
The gamble is that he will be okay if Casilla is banned for six games or more. An unlucky injury in that time or Meslier being exposed would leave us with no other options.
In other Leeds United news, ‘Huge boost’ – Exclusive: Paul Robinson thrilled as ‘massive’ Leeds ace set for return this week