Speaking to Football Insider, former Premier League striker turned Sky Sports pundit Darren Bent has praised Leeds for looking to seal a permanent deal for young goalkeeper Illan Meslier.
Earlier in the week, the same outlet reported that Leeds were looking to press ahead with getting a permanent deal done for the stopper.
On loan from Lorient, few probably expected to see much from him this season but in the FA Cup he shone against Arsenal and with Kiko Casilla banned he has had the chance to carry on in the league.
He has done well, too, despite his young years and it seems as though he has done enough for Leeds to want to make a £5m deal happen.
That in mind, Bent has praised the Whites for acting swiftly about the potential deal, and suggested that it was a real bargain.
He said:
“It’s a snippet and I’m always for getting a deal done early, especially in regards of being a player.
“Leeds, £5million, it’s a bargain and I’d do it straight away but you know what it’s like, in the Championship, you have to pick and choose what you’re going to do.
“You go to the Premier League, all of a sudden you’re shopping in a different market. Although there might have been a deal in place for this goalkeeper, someone might offer you someone else and you think: ‘Hmm, maybe we could do a little bit better.’”
Is Bent right?
Yes
No
Certainly, from what the club has seen from him so far, it does seem a deal worth doing because he has impressed with both his goalkeeping basics and also his ability to play with his feet.
That is such an important factor in the modern game and you only have to look at how he sprayed the ball out wide on numerous occasions in the Arsenal match to get a feel for his ability.
The Whites are looking to get this one done, then, and it could well be a real bargain.