Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier is reportedly being targeted by Roberto De Zerbi’s Marseille this summer, as the Italian seeks new recruits after his stint at Brighton.

Leeds’ continued absence from the Premier League weakens their position in defending against top-flight clubs pursuing their star players.

Due to PSR concerns, selling a player or two could be beneficial if the club can reinvest at a reasonable cost.

French outlet A La Commanderie reported this week that Roberto De Zerbi’s expected arrival at Marseille will prompt him to look for a new goalkeeper.

Given De Zerbi’s emphasis on a goalkeeper who can initiate play from the back, as seen during his intriguing time at Brighton, the keeper’s role is crucial.

The outlet indicates that Marseille is considering two goalkeepers to enhance their options: Illan Meslier and former Leeds stopper Elia Caprile.

When managing PSR-related sales, Leeds must choose wisely which players to sell, aiming to secure good fees without significantly impacting team performance.

Meslier, who has been Leeds’ starting goalkeeper for years since replacing Kiko Casilla, has seen stagnation or decline in several aspects of his game since his breakthrough Premier League season under Marcelo Bielsa.

His consistency in shot-stopping and command of his box have not improved, and his distribution has noticeably worsened in the Championship, indicating much room for improvement.

With a potential transfer fee in the eight-figure range for a goalkeeper with two years left on his contract, Leeds should consider the opportunity.

Though Meslier achieved the golden glove for most clean sheets, he ranked in the bottom half for save percentage and was among the bottom 10 in the league for post-shot xG saved, which measures the quality of shots faced and expected saves.

The funds from Meslier’s sale would more than cover the cost of a replacement to become Leeds’ new number one if De Zerbi is genuinely interested in the 24-year-old.