Leeds United have been eager to offload Illan Meslier throughout the summer, but despite slipping to third-choice goalkeeper at Elland Road, fresh uncertainty surrounds his departure with just five days remaining in the transfer window.
Meslier’s fate was sealed when he was dropped from the team towards the end of last season, when his mistakes threatened to unravel Leeds’ promotion hopes. Karl Darlow provided more certainty between the sticks in the run-in, and the Whites won the Championship to earn their Premier League ticket.
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Leeds secured the signature of Lucas Perri from Lyon in the summer, and he has been anointed as the undisputed number one goalkeeper at Elland Road, with Darlow as his understudy.
Lorient have been in talks with Leeds over taking the goalkeeper back to his former club, but it seems the Frenchman’s departure is going to face a few complications in the final days of the summer transfer window.
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Lorient have ended their pursuit of Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier
Lorient approached Leeds earlier in the window to hold talks over a deal to take Meslier back to his former club this summer.
Their manager talked about the possibility of signing the former Lorient goalkeeper, and it seemed that he could be on his way back to France before the end of the window.
However, according to French journalist Mohamed Toubache-Ter, Lorient have moved on to a completely goalkeeping target ahead of the September 1st transfer deadline.
Lorient réactive l’option Mvogo qui était la piste prioritaire de l’entraîneur des gardiens, en somme !#FCLorient
— Mohamed TOUBACHE-TER (@MohamedTERParis) August 27, 2025
It has been claimed that Lorient are now in advanced negotiations to sign their former goalkeeper, Yvon Mvogo, on a free transfer in the coming days.
The Cameroonian goalkeeper left Lorient at the end of his contract this summer, and the club were looking to bring in his replacement.
However, the club are back in talks with his representatives and are pushing to sign Mvogo on a free transfer this summer.
Signing the 31-year-old was always their priority, and the club are now pushing to convince the goalkeeper to return to the club.
Meslier needs to move
With Lorient now pushing to re-sign Mvogo, that is one less option for Meslier ahead of the September 1st transfer deadline.
Paris Saint-Germain have been linked with a move for the Frenchman, and could sign him as their number 2 if Gianluigi Donnarumma leaves.
Meslier has also been offered to Italian side Como, but it is unclear whether they will make an offer to sign the Leeds goalkeeper in the next five days.
The French goalkeeper needs a move soon, as he has no future under Daniel Farke, and he is too good to be a third-choice goalkeeper at Leeds.
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