Chelsea make Illan Meslier decision amid potential summer Leeds exit
Chelsea have made up their minds on a potential move for Leeds star Illan Meslier next summer, according to Simon Phillips.
The west London club have been linked with signing a new goalkeeper as concerns have been raised around the form of Edouard Mendy, while Kepa Arrizabalaga hasn’t convinced since his £72m move to the club in 2018.
And now the reliable Phillips has told his Substack subscribers [11 October] that they have made a decision on potentially signing Leeds ace Meslier, with Chelsea opting to go in another direction instead.
“We also looked at Illan Meslier from Leeds but the club feel he would not be an improvement at this time,” he said.
Meslier’s current contract at Elland Road runs until 2026, and he has been linked with moves to Manchester United and Tottenham recently as the next big asset at the club that could be sold for big money.
Their loss
They say that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure and that seems to be the case here with Meslier, because he’s an outstanding goalkeeper and easily one of Leeds’ best players right now.
Despite being so young, he has managed to get plenty of experience at the highest level and has developed into one of the best young shot stoppers in Europe.
Chelsea are always on the market for ready-made replacements and a step up to a side that demand victories every week could potentially be seen as too big for him, but that’s a positive for Leeds as they look to keep their strongest squad in years together.
With plenty of time on his contract the club would likely demand plenty of cash to let him leave, but with one less Champions League club to worry about fending off it certainly increases the chances of him staying at Elland Road for the near future.
In other Leeds news, one Leeds target is set for a new deal with his current club that includes a “hefty” release clause