It was a slow January transfer window on Leeds United's part as Monday's 7pm Premier League deadline crawled to a close, but the Whites still have chance to get one very important deal over the line
Aaron Morris Senior Sports Reporter
10:42, 06 Feb 2026
Ethan Ampadu bumps fists with Illan Meslier
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Illan Meslier has failed to make an appearance this season(Image: Getty Images)
Leeds United have less than 12 hours to offload Illan Meslier to Besiktas, as the goalkeeper's future at Elland Road continues to be shrouded in speculation.
The Frenchman was a vital part of the Whites' Championship-winning campaign in 2024/25, keeping 21 clean sheets in 39 appearances. However, the 25-year-old's season wasn't without a number of high-profile errors.
Given Mesilier historically hasn't had the best running in the Premier League - keeping just 21 clean sheets in the English top flight in three previous seasons with Leeds - questions beckoned whether the shot-stopper would be given another chance in 2025/26, or whether a more-seasoned replacement would be brought in.
When Lucas Perri was brought in by Daniel Farke over the summer in a £15.6million deal with Lyon, the writing appeared to be on the wall for Meslier.
Fast forward to February 2026, and the Lorient-born keeper has failed to make a single appearance for the Whites this season, and has substantially fallen down the pecking order in West Yorkshire.
Perri has been at the forefront for the Whites in the Premier League, while Karl Darlow has been deployed by Farke for cup competitions.
Alex Cairns, meanwhile, also at least has a Premier League 2 appearance to his name to show for his efforts this term, while Meslier hasn't appeared at all.
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As a result, his future with Leeds beyond 2025/26 has been cast into ever-growing speculation. Now, it is reported that Meslier could be on the move to Besiktas this week, but the Turkish Super Lig giants only have a matter of hours to get a deal over the line.
While the winter transfer window drew to a close at 7pm on Monday for Premier League clubs, meaning that teams across the UK can no longer sign incoming stars barring free agents until the summer, clubs can still sanction moves overseas given other league windows remain open.
The Turkish winter window, for example, runs between January 1 and February 6, meaning Besiktas still have the rest of the day to conduct any business.
Illan Meslier smiles
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Illan Meslier could be on the move(Image: Getty Images)
Sabah report that Besiktas are interested in Meslier - and despite no "official offer" yet being made, it is thought that the club do not see a potential move as very difficult.
Given Meslier is out of contract at the end of the season, it is unlikely that United will receive a significant fee from Besiktas in the result of a transfer. However, any sale could go some way in Leeds' stresses with regards to stringent PSR regulations.
Despite Besiktas reportedly feeling confident that they could secure the goalkeeper ahead of Friday's deadline, talkSPORT claim that Meslier is reluctant to leave his current club for Kara Kartal, meaning he could see out the duration of his current contract and potentially depart as a free agent this summer.
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