Daniel Farke has already dropped big admission about Illan Meslier exit as post-window twist emerges
Illan Meslier is still a Leeds United player despite falling way down the pecking order.
Meslier has gone from being a highly-rated goalkeeper at Leeds to one who is lucky to make their Premier League matchday squads.
Karl Darlow and summer signing Lucas Perri are jostling with one another to be the number one keeper at Elland Road, meaning Meslier and Alex Cairns are alternating between third and fourth choice.
Daniel Farke repeatedly put his trust in Meslier for the vast majority of their two most recent Championship campaigns, but that is no longer the case.
Leeds’ Meslier was linked with a deadline-day move to Besiktas, but that didn’t come to pass. However, with the Turkish transfer window staying open until 6 February, there may yet be hope for the 25-year-old to seek a fresh start elsewhere.
Daniel Farke previously provided a clue on Illan Meslier’s future
Leeds had a largely quiet winter transfer window. Facundo Buonanotte joined on loan from Brighton as their only first-team signing.
For a time, Leeds looked like they might sign Wolves’ Jorgen Strand Larsen, only for the striker to secure a £48million move to Crystal Palace on Monday.
Conversely, Meslier, who has played 215 times for Leeds and started 39 games in their Championship-winning campaign last term, could head out the exit door.
Earlier this season, Farke waxed lyrical about the former France Under-21 international, who lost his place to Darlow at the end of last season after several costly errors, while opening the door for him to seek pastures new.
Just before Christmas, Farke said on Meslier: “All the players in the squad are part of my plans. All the attention is on each and every player, even if the player at the moment is not that involved, just on the bench or sometimes also not in the squad.
“Like in this case, Illan, but I have made my feelings clear about him. I rate him that much, and I think he is a goalkeeper full of potential. Unbelievably young for a goalkeeper. At this young age to have to have so many games at Championship and Premier League level is remarkable.”
Indeed, Meslier’s agent is said to be in talks with Besiktas about leaving Leeds.
But with his contract expiring this summer, it would not be a surprise to see him run down that deal and become a free agent in a few months.
Did Leeds do enough in the winter transfer window?
Leeds tried to sign Strand Larsen, but they weren’t prepared to go above the £40m mark, something that is becoming increasingly apparent under the 49ers Enterprises.
They did not want to, seemingly, overpay for the likes of Igor Paixao, who went to Marseille, or Habib Diarra, who joined Sunderland, and the same has happened with Strand Larsen.
But this begs the question, will Leeds’ current squad keep them up? It seems Farke is putting his faith in the summer signings they made, with free transfer Dominic Calvert-Lewin the best example of that.
Leeds sit six points above the relegation zone and have a couple of players who are set to return from injury, something that may have been on the board’s mind when it came to winter dealings.
Centre-back Jaka Bijol and winger Daniel James are nearing a first-team return, which bolsters Farke’s options at the front and back.
Next up, Leeds face 17th-placed Nottingham Forest at Elland Road on Friday in a relegation six-pointer. Win that, and some fans’ relegation fears may be allayed. A loss, though, could spell doom for the Whites.
Leeds had a chance to twist, and they stuck. Farke will hope that doesn’t come back to haunt them.
Stay up to date this winter with our Leeds transfer tracker. Click to see every done deal at Elland Road, plus expert reaction from our team of writers.