Arsenal seal Meslier deal as Man United face Santos doubts

Arsenal have signed goalkeeper Illan Meslier on a free transfer from Leeds, while Manchester United’s pursuit of Andrey Santos has been questioned by club legends Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt. Meslier, 26, joins on a two-year deal with the option to extend for a further year, having made 215 appearances and kept 70 clean sheets across seven seasons for the Yorkshire club. “I cannot wait to win trophies with this team, because this is a club that needs to lift trophies again and again,” said the Frenchman, whose arrival was first reported by BBC Sport on 30 June. Meslier lost his place as number one at Leeds and was out of contract this summer. At Arsenal he becomes third-choice behind Premier League Golden Glove winner David Raya and Kepa Arrizabalaga, whose future is in doubt. Should Kepa depart, Meslier could be promoted to number two, which is likely to send 20-year-old Tommy Setford out on loan. Across Manchester, United are on the cusp of signing Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos for £50m. The 22-year-old underwent a medical on Friday ahead of a move that would form part of a double deal with compatriot Ederson costing close to £100m. But doubts have been raised by former United stars Scholes and Butt. “Where’ve they seen him play enough games? United aren’t in the position to be buying players for the future at this point,” Scholes said on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast. Butt added: “He’s young and he’s for the future... The big thing for me is if he’s been brought in to come and start for us, United and Carrick don’t have time to let people bed in.” Santos made 43 appearances for Chelsea last season, competing with £200m worth of midfield talent in Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo. But for United’s icons, that is not enough to prove he is ready to lead at Old Trafford.