Chelsea have reportedly joined Tottenham and Bayern Munich in showing interest in Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier.
The 22-year-old is thought to be among Bayern’s picks to replace Manuel Nueur, who is out for the rest of the season having broken his leg skiing after the World Cup.
Tottenham meanwhile are on the lookout for a long-term successor for Hugo Lloris.
Meslier, who joined Leeds from Lorient in 2019 on loan before the move was made permanent a year later, is also now on Chelsea’s radar, according to Foot Mercato.
Kepa Arrizabalaga is currently Graham Potter’s first choice at Stamford Bridge ahead of Edouard Mendy, but the Blues hierarchy believe it’s an area they can improve upon.
Kepa has struggled for large parts of his Chelsea career to date after he made a £71m move to Stamford Bridge in 2018.
Mendy impressed hugely when he joined the club, playing a huge role in the 2021 Champions League run, but his form has been patchy at best since.
The Senegal international reportedly turned down the offer of a six-year contract last month as he wants pay parity with Kepa, who earns almost twice as much as him.
It will be tough though for Chelsea to steal Meslier – who’s valued at £20m – away from Leeds, who have no desire to sell the goalkeeper who is under contract at Elland Road until 2026.
It’s expected to be another busy window for Chelsea after they spent over £270m in the summer.
Enzo Fernandez is thought to be close to a £115m move from Benfica, while the hierarchy is also in talks over a move for top Arsenal target Mykhaylo Mudryk.
Asked about all the transfer speculation, Potter explained why he had to “dodge” the question.
“It’s a good question but the problem is if I answer it and I’m specific in that answer, every single player in that area will be linked with Chelsea,” he said.
“So I have to dodge it – and I hope you can understand why I’m dodging it. I always answer that part of the question by saying that I’m the head coach and my responsibility is to the players that are here.
“We will try in every window to improve, but January is a complicated one because it’s the middle of the season.
“And in the meantime, we have to deal with all the noise of Chelsea getting linked with everybody and I don’t comment on any player that isn’t a Chelsea player.
“As always, and it’s a boring answer, but my job is to help the players that are here and support the club in terms of decisions they make…
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