Illan Meslier will know his future at Leeds United is over this summer and not just because of his form on the pitch, but because of his contractual situation off of it.
The Frenchman has spent the last six years at Leeds after initially joining the club on loan from Lorient in the summer of 2019. He was signed permanently a year later, going on to play a whopping 214 games.
Many forget that Meslier is still only 25, which in goalkeeping terms is still incredibly young and yet, the Frenchman is approaching 250 club matches having also turned out 30 times for Lorient before an exit.
But his time at Leeds is over. Phil Hay says Meslier is ‘done’ at Leeds after he was dropped for Karl Darlow and his contract ends in June 2026, meaning Leeds have to sell now or risk losing him on a free transfer.
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Meslier’s Mourinho hopes dashed as Fenerbahce strike deal
Reports emerged this week suggesting Meslier could be off to Turkey. LeedsUnited.News were told that Meslier had held talks with both Fenerbahce and Galatasaray, who finished second and first last season.
A move to Galatasaray is always going to be deemed unlikely, for obvious reasons. But Meslier will have surely been open to a move to Fenerbahce, given Jose Mourinho remains manager of the Turkish side.
Now, a blow for Meslier’s potential hopes of a Fenerbahce move. Turkish site 343 Digital report that the Turkish giants have now agreed a move to sign Trabzonspor captain Ugurcan Cakir, instead of Meslier.
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Where else could Meslier go this summer as Leeds exit beckons?
A priority for Leeds this summer will be to sign a new goalkeeper. The club were interested in Caoimhin Kelleher before he chose Brentford over Liverpool, while interest remains in Newcastle United’s Nick Pope.
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For Meslier, the chances are that he will have to play the waiting game. Allow the market to play out and then take advantage of a side that have lost a goalkeeper. But Meslier will not want to be second choice.
The chances are that French clubs will show interest. Strasbourg and Lens are both supposedly keen on Meslier, and Strasbourg certainly will tempt Meslier given they have qualified for a European spot.