Leeds United icon Nigel Martyn says the next best step for Illan Meslier is to find a new club after falling out of favour under Daniel Farke.
The Frenchman is now third choice at the Whites, with new goalkeeper Lucas Perri being handed the number one jersey. Meslier was not taken to Dublin for Saturday’s friendly with AC Milan because he wasn't needed by Farke given Karl Darlow is second choice.
“Today we decided to play just two goalkeepers and for that it was not necessary for him [Meslier] to travel with us,” the manager told reporters after full-time. "Karl doesn’t give me any reason to change the pecking order.”
Meslier’s omission from the trip to Dublin has cast an ominous cloud over his future at Elland Road. While the club are not forcing him out, there is a general acceptance that he could seek first team football elsewhere before deadline day.
Martyn, one of United’s most revered former goalkeepers, says Meslier has got time on his side aged 25. But given the context of his status and current career trajectory, he believes an exit is the most sensible route forward.
“I think in all honesty, he's been a great servant to the club first and foremost, and he's still a young goalkeeper, that's the thing. Probably the best thing for him would be to get away, have a fresh start somewhere,” Martyn told Leeds Live.
“It's probably not what he wants to do. He looks to me like the type that would want to stay and fight for his place. Obviously, Karl [Darlow] did really well at the back end of last season and looks to be fighting for the number one jersey with Lucas now.
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"So for his career, I think he probably needs to move away and get somewhere fresh and start again and to rebuild his career.”
On Meslier, Martyn added: “It's a minor blip on what is a long road on somebody's career, and these sort of things happen. There's been lots of highlights but the thing is you get remembered as well for the mistakes - and I think there were probably just too many that were costing points in games that could have been crucial at the end.
“Obviously, it wasn't (crucial), thankfully, but once a player starts to get targeted the way that he was at the back end of last season or through the season, I think you need to move that player on and not have that as a potential weak link.”
Perri has yet to complete a full 90 minutes for Leeds, having arrived from Lyon last month with a hamstring injury. He was given his debut in Dublin after a week of training, being taken off at half-time in a pre-planned change.
Should Perri ever get ruled out for a period of time, be it through injury or suspension, Martyn believes Darlow is a solid back-up: “I think he looked very assured. He looks a confident goalkeeper.”
New Leeds United goalkeeper Lucas Perri
As for Perri, his first full game will come against Everton in Monday’s Premier League opener. When it comes to instilling cohesion and trust into the defence - something Perri revealed as his number one aim - Martyn added that this will only come with minutes on the pitch.
“The more time spent with playing with that same back four, you get a real understanding of the goalkeeper and how he is going to be,” he outlined. “To get the communication between centre-halves and goalkeeper sorted out is vital.
"That talking, that understanding, almost knowing what he's going to do every single time, and that becomes more prevalent the more you do it.
“So the more games you play with the same sort of three if you like, the better they will be at understanding where they need to be for each other. What you want from your goalkeeper is good communication and confidence.
"And then your two centre-halves can relax if they know the guy behind them is good and knows what he's doing. It makes their jobs easier for sure. So that will be something that we'll all be watching and hopefully they get it right.”
Nigel Martyn was speaking to Parimatch, new official sleeve sponsors of LUFC. Find out more about their exciting fan initiatives and win tickets to Leeds United home games this season by visiting https://www.parimatch.co.uk/.
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