Signed for £5m, now worth 740% more: Leeds struck gold with £42m-rated "rare talent" - opinion

Leeds United struck gold in their £5m deal for Illan Meslier as his stock continues to rise at Elland Road…

The 21-year-old shot-stopper joined the Yorkshire giants from Ligue 1 outfit Lorient back in August 2019, initially on loan, in a bid to provide backup to veteran Kiko Casilla.

He quickly made a name for himself amongst the U23s setup as by December, he had saved three penalties. By January 2020, he was involved in their FA Cup clash with Arsenal, where he made his senior debut for the club.

Meslier impressed despite a 1-0 defeat, earning rave reviews from The Athletic’s Phil Hay.

‘Meslier pulled off several difficult saves at the Emirates but it was the precision of his passing – floated deliveries into tight spaces, countering Arsenal’s press and allowing Leeds to rage through the lines – that suggested he would cope as interim first-choice if Kiko Casilla’s FA racism charge leads to a suspension.’

Indeed, his opportunity soon came with the Spaniard suspended for eight games.

The rest has been history.

He took over the reins as the no.1 ever since and he has not looked back.

But as expected, his fine form has started to attract interest from elsewhere as it has done with similar stars like Kalvin Phillips – on the back of a phenomenal Euro 2020 campaign – and Raphinha, who has had to bear the brunt of their attacking output in the absence of the injured Patrick Bamford.

The Athletic claim that the Whites are bracing themselves for bids for all three players and whilst they are not irreplaceable, the departure of Meslier could be most damaging.

In almost a reverse situation, it is now the young Frenchman that does not have a sufficient – or vastly experienced – back up behind him.

If is ever sold, Leeds will know