£25m Illan Meslier trouble brews behind the scenes at Leeds United, Sam Allardyce bust-up on the cards
Illan Meslier is on a collision course with Sam Allardyce after the Leeds United goalkeeper was dropped for the 2-1 defeat at Manchester City on Saturday.
Meslier, 23, had played every Premier League game for Leeds for the last two seasons before Joel Robles was called upon to play in goals at the Etihad, with Big Sam taking no prisoners with his early decisions as Leeds manager.
Speaking after the game, Allardyce did admit that he’d ruffled Meslier’s feathers with his decision.
As quoted by The Athletic on Sunday (7 May), Allardyce said: “He wasn’t very happy. But I didn’t expect him to be very happy.”
Phil Hay reported that at this point of the season and with Leeds in the situation they’re in, “no room exists for sentiment or the protection of anyone’s ego”.
Big Sam’s decision was ultimately the right one – but where does this leave Meslier?
Robles, 32, did nothing wrong, in fact playing quite well against one of the best attacking forces on the planet.
Erling Haaland didn’t score. Julio Alvarez didn’t score. Riyad Mahrez didn’t score. Kevin De Bruyne didn’t score. Phil Foden didn’t score.
Ilkay Gundogan’s two goals were pretty much unstoppable from Robles’ perspective while the Spanish shot-stopper may have just about got a fingertip to the ball deny Gundogan of his hat-trick from the penalty spot.
Either way, Robles managed to get the ball to move away from the goalmouth danger after it struck the post and according to stats by WhoScored, the ex-Everton goalkeeper made four saves.
Meslier’s not going to play again this season based on that and if Meslier didn’t take it well knowing he’d been dropped for one game – what’s he doing to do when he finds out that he’s being left out for the remaining three?
The Frenchman needs to get comfortable on the bench but we doubt that behind the scenes there’ll be any sort of comfort for a goalkeeper who’s vying for a spot in the France national team.
At the start of the season, ex-Leeds goalkeeper Paul Robinson tipped Meslier to win a move to a Champions League club in the future in an interview with MOT Leeds News.
He said: “He’s a fantastic talent and you forget how young he is.
“To be trusted like he was by Marcelo Bielsa, who has a fantastic eye for a player, he’s going to be a top goalkeeper. I’ve got no doubt that he will move on and play Champions League football at some point of his career.“
Last summer, Meslier was valued at £25million.
The Daily Star reported on 17 August that Manchester United had tabs on the former Lorient shot-stopper.
However, it’s hard to see how the Red Devils would be keen on Meslier – especially for £25million – when he’s been dropped by Allardyce at a relegation-threatened team.
And if Leeds United go down, it’ll be hard for the Whites to find suitors for a goalkeeper who’s struggled so badly in recent months and been culpable for numerous goal-bound errors.
Trouble could be brewing behind the scenes with Meslier based on all of this.
Being dropped by Big Sam doesn’t just mean he’s not going to play for the next three games but it may also cost him the chance of getting his big move in the summer.
In other Leeds United news, one star is already thinking about his future at the club after Allardyce’s arrival.