Journalist Darren Lewis has revealed that European giants Bayern Munich are 'really big fans' of young Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier.

What’s the word?

With the January transfer market open, fans are always excited about who may be joining their club. For instance, the Whites have already managed to seal deals for Georginio Rutter and Max Wober this winter.

Of course, though, supporters always have to be wary of bigger clubs coming along to try and steal their team's best players. At Leeds, 22-year-old Meslier certainly seems to be a player who is catching the eye – and not just reams from within the Premier League.

Indeed, when talking on the Last Word on Spurs, Lewis said the goalkeeper is a target for Tottenham Hotspur before naming some other interested parties, including Bundesliga outfit Bayern Munich.

He explained “One name that I've heard that – to be fair, he has admirers up and down the Premier League – is Meslier at Leeds.

"He is a young 'keeper. [Marcelo] Bielsa also obviously set a lot of store by him. Jesse Marsch is obviously playing him at the moment.

"Bayern Munich [are] really big fans of him as well. Chelsea like him too. A lot of people like him."

A big future?

Despite still being just 22 years old, the goalkeeper has already played 107 times for Leeds United – with 91 of those appearances coming in the English top flight.

He's certainly shown his ability to perform against the big boys too. For instance, earlier this season he delivered against Manchester City and Newcastle United with top performances in back-to-back games.

The worry for Leeds will be that they have a top talent but are still battling down at the bottom end of the Premier League and so they may not be able to hold onto their goalkeeper for much longer.

Bayern number one Manuel Neuer is 36 now and out for some time with a serious injury after fracturing his right leg in a fall while skiing. It seems likely that they will want a long-term replacement at some stage and Meslier may well be their man.