Leeds United could have hands tied by January exit agreement for Illan Meslier
Illan Meslier’s time as a Leeds player could finally end when the winter transfer window opens.
Meslier has been touted with a move away from Leeds since the summer, and is yet to make a competitive appearance this season.
As such, the 25-year-old goalkeeper doesn’t appear to be in Daniel Farke’s long-term plans whatsoever.
Lucas Perri’s performances have seen him come under growing scrutiny in recent weeks, though, with some Leeds players even spotted lambasting Perri against Aston Villa.
Farke has openly admitted that there are areas of Perri’s game that must improve, but with Alex Cairns and Karl Darlow as the only other shot-stopping options, the Brazilian looks set to continue being the number one.
Leeds may be powerless to prevent Illan Meslier saga
Even if Farke and Leeds wanted to get rid of Meslier in the upcoming January transfer window, his contract situation at Elland Road may well prevent that from happening.
As detailed by Leeds Live journalist Isaac Johnson, the Frenchman’s contract runs out at the end of the season, thus meaning that January is the final opportunity for Leeds to receive a transfer fee for him.
Meslier is known to have received offers to leave Elland Road this summer, but a move didn’t materialise for him, and so the transfer fee ship may have sailed, given the fact he’s currently third-choice keeper and absent from match fitness.
With his contract expiring in the summer, overseas clubs can sign him to a pre-contract agreement in January, which would see him remain at Elland Road before leaving for nothing.
This means that there is little incentive for an overseas side to part with any kind of fee for Meslier this winter, with Johnson saying Leeds may have their hands completely tied.
Leeds must regret missed opportunity to cash in on Meslier
Hindsight always wins, but Leeds chiefs will surely be looking back on this summer’s transfer window with some regret over failing to move Meslier on.
With one year left on his deal at the time, AC and Inter Milan were among the clubs interested in signing Meslier, and so a sizeable fee would surely have been on offer there for the Whites.
- Illan Meslier is out of contract with Leeds in the summer
- Leeds may well be resigned to losing him in January due to his contract situation
- Meslier can sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club that would see him leave for free
Now, though, his Leeds career is fading away in the Elland Road stands, which, for a player who has made over 200 appearances for the club, is somewhat of a shame despite his long-documented issues when it comes to consistency and mistakes.
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