BBC pundit delivers verdict on Illan Meslier Leeds United exit
Gus Poyet has expressed his views on Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier leaving Elland Road after he wanted out this summer.
The Greece manager, who is a pundit for the BBC, believes that the Frenchman will now be staying at the club after enjoying the start of the Championship season as the first choice keeper.
The Athletic’s Phil Hay reported back in July that an exit was on the cards for Meslier after Karl Darlow was signed from Newcastle and that both parties saw benefits in parting ways.
“I think that Leeds made a very strong decision in giving Illan Meslier the opportunity to be the number one at Leeds and it is always difficult for goalkeepers to move,” Poyet explained to Football League World.
“I would like the decision on his future to be made by himself because sometimes you get caught in the middle of a financial situation but the goalkeeper is a unique position.
“You see many goalkeepers that are good enough to play but don’t get the opportunity because they are number two and sometimes you move thinking you are going to be the number one then things don’t work out.
“I can’t see him moving, I think he will stay at Leeds.”
Right move?
Towards the back end of last season, Meslier was synonymous with everything that was going wrong at Elland Road.
There were systemic failures on the side, which the Frenchman wasn’t to be blamed for, but his howlers kept hogging the spotlight.
He was eventually dropped as first choice and the signing of a new keeper seemed like the beginning of the end of his time at Elland Road.
However, against all odds, he proved himself to Daniel Farke and has given the German no good reason to drop him for Darlow.
The English keeper must be wondering what he needs to do in order to get picked but as of now, he’s just got to keep training and hoping Meslier gives him a chance by slipping up.
A healthy competition for places is what Farke will have wanted and he’s getting that in his goalkeeping department.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay claims that big European clubs have been keeping tabs on a Whites player for a while and are still willing to sign him.