Leeds United finished transfer deadline day without adding to their squad, with their sole January acquisition being the loan signing of Facundo Buonanotte from Brighton.
The Whites were eager to strengthen in attack but chose not to get drawn into a bidding war for leading target Jorgen Strand Larsen, who went on to join Crystal Palace in a deal valued at up to £48m.
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Leeds were also linked with former Aston Villa striker Jhon Durán, but the club decided against bringing in anyone, as Daniel Farke didn’t want a bloated squad.
However, the club could not sanction the departure from Elland Road after the transfer window closed on Monday evening, with Illan Meslier’s agents trying to find a new club.
Besiktas are in talks with the representatives of Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier
Meslier has not played a minute of football for Leeds this season, and he could leave the club on a free transfer at the end of the season due to his expiring contract.
Leeds were keen to offload him in the winter window. However, no club came forward with an offer, and he is still at Elland Road, picking up his wage.
However, a move could be on the cards in the coming days as according to Turkish journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu, a move to Turkey could be on the cards.
The transfer window in Turkey is still open, and Besiktas are in talks with his representatives over a potential deal to take him off Leeds hands.
A meeting has already taken place between Meslier’s agents and Besiktas, and the club have enquired about the financial terms of a potential deal.
Leeds would be happy to let him go for a nominal transfer fee, and Besiktas are likely to afford his wage demands.
It remains to be seen whether Besiktas do decide to make a concrete offer for the Frenchman in the coming days.
Meslier should have been offloaded last summer
Selling Meslier after the transfer window in England has closed does nothing for Leeds but to help them save on his wages for the rest of the season.
The Frenchman should have been sold last summer, but Leeds kept waiting for suitable offers when it was clear he had no future under at Elland Road.
They terminated Patrick Bamford’s contract, and a similar agreement with Meslier would have made sense as well.
Meslier has continued to pick up significant wages despite not playing a minute of football, and he now has financial reasons to wait until the summer.
He would be due a significant signing-on fee from any club wanting him, and Leeds could be stuck with him for the next few months.
Besiktas have held talks with his agents, but it remains to be seen whether it leads to a concrete offer in the coming days.