Thursday’s defeat at Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup quarter-final was a tough pill to swallow considering the fightback from the team in the second half.
Ruben Amorim’s decision to make multiple changes backfired with reserve goalkeeper Altay Bayindir responsible for two of the goal conceded on the night.
The Turk made his first start under the Portuguese and has hardly received minutes since his move to Manchester back in 2023, with former boss Erik ten Hag not his biggest fan.
He has played only four games in red and has hardly set the stage alight when given his chances and has been linked with an exit either in January or at the end of the season.
Amorim wants better competition for Onana
With Andre Onana committing a few mistakes recently, the ex-Sporting Lisbon boss wants stronger competition between the sticks to keep the Cameroonian on his toes.
As per journalist Alan Nixon (on his Patreon), the United head coach has identified Leeds United’s Illan Meslier as a potential option.
The Frenchman has kept 11 clean sheets in the Championship with the Whites second in the Championship, only a point off the top and looking favourites to earn promotion to the English top flight.
The 24-year-old was a target for the Red Devils back when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ten Hag were in charge and his impressive form coupled with his Premier League experience makes him an ideal backup keeper.
Meslier a target
United’s goalkeeping scout Tony Coton has been closely watching Meslier and has been impressed with what he has seen with Leeds boss Daniel Farke terming him “the best goalkeeper in the league“.
The France U21 international’s experience of playing 107 English top flight games will stand him in good stead at Old Trafford with United keen to take advantage of his contract situation at Leeds.
Meslier’s current deal is valid until 2026 and that could mean a cut-price exit could be on the cards next summer should the goalie not agree a new deal with his current employers.
He has a market value of €18 million as per Transfermarkt, an affordable fee for United but it remains to be seen whether the arch rivals sanction a move to Manchester for their shot-stopper.
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Ayantan Chowdhury
Ayantan has worked for 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites but his heart was always set on writing about his favourite club. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25
