Exclusive: Illan Meslier bid update as Besiktas seek easy last-gasp swoop for Leeds outcast
Illan Meslier could still exit Leeds United, with Besiktas seeking a last-gasp transfer for the Elland Road ace.
Meslier has fallen down the pecking order in LS11, with Daniel Farke not convinced by his abilities in the Premier League.
He has not been able to force his way back in, despite Lucas Perri’s worrying form for Leeds so far, since he joined in the summer.
Meslier’s agent is understood to have already met with the Turkish club, and now, a move may be on the cards.
Besiktas want to strike Illan Meslier agreement within 48 hours
The Turkish deadline does not close until 6 February, which could open the door for a Meslier exit, after the England window ended.
Sabah journalist Dokugan Yildirim exclusively told MOT Leeds News that the Turkish club see it as an easy transfer to complete within the next 48 hours.
He said: “Beşiktaş is interested in Meslier.
“No official offer has been made. Beşiktaş doesn’t see this transfer as very difficult.
“With very little time left, they might not sign a goalkeeper, the [Filip] Jorgensen option has also been cancelled. Things will become clear very soon.”
Where did it all go wrong for Meslier at Leeds?
Meslier was once touted as the next big thing, and he earned Marcelo Bielsa’s trust when the Argentine was the Whites manager after being signed from Lorient in 2019.
Farke also kept the Frenchman between the sticks for the majority of his reign, with Meslier making 89 appearances under the German.
| Manager | Appearances | Goals conceded | Clean sheets |
| Marcelo Bielsa | 76 | 121 | 23 |
| Jesse March | 35 | 56 | 6 |
| Michael Skubala | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| Javi Gracia | 12 | 30 | 1 |
| Daniel Farke | 89 | 73 | 42 |
However, cracks started to show last season, when he made several high-profile errors that threatened to cost the Peacocks promotion to the top-flight.
He was dropped for Karl Darlow for the business end of the campaign, and that ultimately paid off and proved to be the right decision as the Yorkshire side secured a return to the elite level.
Meslier has been unable to turn things around since being axed, and surely the best move for all parties is for the 25-year-old to move on to a new club.
Whether Besiktas can strike a deal in the final stages of their window remains to be seen, but their confidence suggests that they believe one can be reached.