Daniel Farke reveals the fate of one Leeds United player ahead of Premier League season, he could be pushed down the ‘pecking order.’
Leeds United have made it no secret this transfer window is all about improving their Championship squad that saw them seal promotion back to the Premier League.
With new signings gradually arriving at Elland Road over the past month or so, one significant position that has needed reinforcement is goalkeeper.
The arrival of Lucas Perri from Lyon has meant one Leeds player may see less game time next season and Farke appears to have shed some light on the situation.
Illan Meslier, Leeds goalkeeper.
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
Daniel Farke confirms goalkeeper Illan Meslier is now third choice
Lucas Perri made his debut for Leeds United in a pre-season friendly against AC Milan.
The Brazilian goalkeeper, who only started training with the squad this week due to a minor injury, wore the number one shirt, previously held by Illan Meslier.
During his 45-minute appearance in front of a sell-out crowd in Dublin, Perri showcased his impressive 50-meter throws, a skill he developed with the encouragement of his former goalkeeping coach at Botafogo, Daniel Correia. Karl Darlow replaced him for the second half.
It was thought Meslier’s fate would be decided with this fixture, and Farke confirmed after the game that he had indeed been left behind.
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“We decided to play two goalkeepers so it was not necessary for him (Meslier) to travel,” said Farke. He also stated that Darlow was “ahead of him (Meslier) in the pecking order.”
Farke explained his decision to give Perri the number one shirt. “It’s quite normal. We invested – by our standards – a big sum to bring Lucas in.”
While Farke gave no guarantees about who would start, he added, “of course Lucas is likely to play a role for us (against Everton) and for that, we decided to give him the No 1 shirt.”
Farke clarified that the decision was not a slight against Meslier. “It’s not a decision against Illan. It’s also for the confidence of Lucas to make him welcome and show why we signed him.”
Lucas Perri, Leeds goalkeeper.
Photo by Tim Clayton/Getty Images
How do Illan Meslier’s statistics compare to Lucas Perri’s?
So what does Lucas Perri have that Illan Meslier does not? Let’s take a look at how both their previous seasons (2024/25) compare.
In the 2024/25 season, Lucas Perri, playing for Lyon, had a save percentage of 72.5%, ranking among the top goalkeepers in Ligue 1, and made just one error leading to a goal.
He also registered 10 clean sheets and was noted for his ability to prevent goals, a key metric where he ranked seventh in his league.
By contrast, Meslier, while amassing 21 clean sheets for Leeds in the Championship, a testament to the team’s strong defence, had a save percentage of 70.7%.
However, his season was marred by crucial mistakes, with three errors leading to goals. These glaring errors, including that one against Sunderland, ultimately eroded manager Daniel Farke’s patience, leading to Meslier being replaced by Karl Darlow for the final seven games of the 2024/25 season.
Perri, therefore, brings a much-needed reliability and commanding presence that was missing from Meslier’s game.