According to Football Insider, Leeds United “remain ready to consider offers” for goalkeeper Illan Meslier in the January transfer window.
Meslier remained at Elland Road this summer despite being linked with a number of large teams, including Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Real Madrid, following the Whites’ relegation to the Championship.
According to Athletic journalist Phil Hay, the Leeds administration expected Meslier to leave this summer and would have explored offers ranging from £20 million to £25 million.
However, the Whites did not get a fair offer for Meslier, and the 23-year-old began the season as Daniel Farke’s first choice goalkeeper, ahead of Karl Darlow, who joined the club this summer for a fee of £400,000 from Newcastle United.
Meslier’s future, though, appears to be in doubt again in January, with Leeds said to be willing to allow his departure.
Meslier has a deal with Elland Road until the summer of 2026.
Should Illan Meslier be sold by Leeds United in January?
We asked some of our FLW writers if they felt the Whites should try to trade Meslier in January.
Reeves, James
Leeds must make a crucial decision on Meslier’s future.
Meslier is a great goalkeeper, and he appears to have found his form in the Championship this season after being dropped by Sam Allardyce for the final four Premier League games last season.
It would be a loss for the Whites to lose Meslier, but they have an excellent replacement in Darlow, who has previously established his worth at Championship level with Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United, and Hull City.
It could come down to cash with two good goalkeepers, and after failing to gain substantial transfer fees for some of their exiting players this summer, the club may be eager to bring in funds.
However, with the Whites hoping to return to the Premier League in the near future, there will be doubts about Darlow’s ability to play in the top tier, therefore allowing Meslier go would be a mistake since he might remain the club’s number one goalkeeper.
Mr. Alfie Burns
It runs counter to what the club is stating.
Angus Kinnear recently revealed that the club turned down an eight-figure offer for Meslier in the summer, adding that the offer was in the mid-twenties and pretty substantial. Leeds wanted to be proactive in their retentions, and Meslier was just that.
Meslier entered the season as Daniel Farke’s No.1 despite the signing of Karl Darlow, and surely the club shouldn’t be selling his No.1 under his nose, especially after making such a big deal about returning to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
Every week, the young Frenchman improves and appears to be regaining much of the confidence he lost in the past.
Combine that with the fact that Darlow hasn’t impressed in the EFL Cup, and you’d definitely advise Leeds to keep Meslier rather than sell him in January. Things might change if a bid comes in that is too good to vote down, but given that Leeds has already rejected down bids for £20 million or more, it will take a truly substantial sum in January to convince them to approve any deal.
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