Illan Meslier wanted by La Liga club as Leeds United expected transfer this summer – Phil Hay
Leeds United “anticipated” Illan Meslier would depart this summer and that he would want to do so, according to Phil Hay.
The Whites journalist reported on The Athletic website on Wednesday (6 September) that the keeper was wanted during the window by La Liga side Celta Vigo, but despite the club having expected he “would leave and that the France Under-21 international would want to leave” no move came off.
Daniel Farke signed Karl Darlow from Newcastle but Meslier has kept him out of the side for start of the campaign aside from the two Carabao Cup ties.
Meslier had long been considered a prime candidate to be picked off from the Whites squad but was benched for the final four games of last season by Sam Allardyce after a rough run of form on the way to relegation.
Buy in
Although his record on the pitch has been less than sparkling for some time it is to Meslier’s credit that he didn’t apparently jump at the first option of an exit this summer.
The goalless draw with struggling Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday was the first clean sheet of any sort for this club in 22 games [Athletic, 4 September], and although the defence in general has a lot to answer for the keeper played his part in that.
But there was no shortage of players who have contributed to relegation from the Premier League who swiftly took up the opportunity to play virtually anywhere else during the transfer window, and some who did so belatedly.
So for the 23-year-old to still be in the squad is fairly unexpected, even allowing for his rough campaign last term.
Clearly the top level offers that he had been linked to previously didn’t materialise, but Celta finished 13th in La Liga last year and would likely have given Meslier a greater chance of breaking into the senior France squad.
The assumption had been that Darlow would come in and start, and that may still happen, but for now it looks like there is at least one player in the squad who had an exit route he didn’t take up during a window where so many left and Willy Gnonto unsuccessfully fought to join them.
In other Leeds United news, Hay has shared an update on Gnonto’s situation at Elland Road after Luis Sinisterra forced a late exit.