Leeds hold meeting over deal to sign loanee on permanent basis amid coronavirus concern – report

Leeds United have made it clear to Lorient that they intend to sign goalkeeper Illan Meslier from them on a permanent deal, according to L’Equipe.

Meslier, 20, joined Leeds on a season-long loan in the summer to serve as Marcelo Bielsa’s back-up goalkeeper but Kiko Casilla’s eight-match ban for racism had propelled the Frenchman into the number one spot until the current suspension due to coronavirus.

He’s made two appearances since Casilla was banned, keeping clean sheets in Championship wins against Hull and Huddersfield.

leeds united

Meslier is clearly a talented young goalkeeper and Leeds seem to have made a good call when they included a mandatory purchase clause in their loan deal for him in the summer.

It means that Leeds have to sign Meslier if they win promotion to the Premier League this season.

However Leeds’ promotion bid has been put on hold due to the coronavirus-enforced suspension of elite-level football in England.

L’Equipe reports that despite this, the Whites still want to sign Meslier on a permanent basis from Lorient once his loan spell at Elland Road expires.

leeds united

It was a good decision by Leeds to have this meeting and tell Lorient where they stand with Meslier because one possibility about the current state of the Championship is that the season is null and voided.

There is a lot of doubt about what happens next and the Whites have a few players on loan who need to have their futures clarified.

At least with Meslier, it seems there is a clear plan in place.

In other Leeds United news, Leeds player had a day off on Sunday as a report details what is happening at Thorp Arch amid the coronavirus pandemic.