Illan Meslier contract termination latest as Leeds United sources speak out ahead of January
Illan Meslier clearly has no future at Leeds United ahead of the January transfer window.
As December winds down, there is a far greater sense of optimism around Elland Road currently than there was at the beginning of the month.
Leeds’ 4-1 win over Crystal Palace last time out stretched their unbeaten run to four games, and firmly relieved the pressure that had been building on Daniel Farke.
A trip to Sunderland is next on Leeds’ agenda, which will be the Whites’ final game of 2025.
Focus will then turn to Liverpool on New Year’s Day, as well as transfers, with Leeds expected to be busy in the January window.
Illan Meslier update offered ahead of January transfer window
With Leeds now sitting in 16th and six points clear of 18th-placed West Ham, the Whites look well placed to survive an instant return to Championship football.
However, that’s far from a guarantee just yet, and Leeds can’t afford to rest on their laurels, as a poor January window could see them thrown right back into danger.
Incomings are expected to arrive at Elland Road this winter, but to do so, a balance regarding outgoings may need to be struck.
But, as per a report from The Athletic, who cite the word given to them from anonymous club sources, Leeds are “neither hoping nor expecting” to sell any player in January, with loans expected coming in.
It’s stated that whilst it’s impossible to predict exactly what offers may arrive for certain players, it’s not expected that any will match what Leeds would want to commission a sale.
Meanwhile, Meslier, Joel Piroe and Jack Harrison have all been touted as potentially wanting more playing time, and with the keeper in particular, a mutual termination of his contract may be on the cards.
His current deal is set to expire in the summer, and given that a fee is now unlikely for the goalkeeper in January as a result of that, a similar situation to that of Patrick Bamford may occur.
Leeds could see getting him off the wage bill as a better option, but that’s not expected right now.
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Leeds still have Lucas Perri problem regardless of Meslier decision
However, even if Meslier is sent on his way in January, Leeds still appear to have an issue in between the sticks.
Summer signing Lucas Perri has now claimed the starting role, but the Brazilian hasn’t been overly convincing in his first 12 Premier League appearances.
The 28-year-old has conceded 23 times and kept just two clean sheets, and whilst that to some extent isn’t totally his fault, given the natural challenges a newly promoted team faces transitioning to defensive standards in the Premier League, his higher-controllable numbers don’t paint a great picture either.
- Meslier has made 215 appearances for Leeds
- He’s conceded 285 goals and kept 72 clean sheets in that time
- Perri kept 10 clean sheets in 33 Ligue 1 games for Lyon last season, conceding 44
As per FotMob, Perri’s save percentage is 54.9 per cent, which ranks him in the bottom 20.7th percentile of Premier League goalkeepers this season.
His pass completion percentage of 52.8 per cent ranks him in the bottom 6.9 percentile, whilst his 26.6 per cent long ball accuracy places him in the bottom 3.4 percentile.
He’s also prevented -0.72 goals this season, which all add up to present fairly damming evidence that Leeds haven’t found their long-term shot-stopping solution in him.
Therefore, Meslier may not be the only move made in the goalkeeping department in January, as Farke may feel as though he needs a safer pair of hands if they are to stay up.
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