Illan Meslier finds himself in Leeds United limbo with his number one spot firmly ripped from his grasp over the summer, but Stuart Dallas backs him to come out of the situation well.
Back in April, Illan Meslier’s position as Leeds’ virtually undisputed starter in goal under Daniel Farke became untenable, seeing Karl Darlow brought in for the final seven games of the campaign.
Beyond that, the writing was on the wall for his long-term prospects as United prepared for the division above, spending £15.6million on new starter Lucas Perri.
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“Stranger things have happened” – Stuart Dallas reacts to Illan Meslier’s Leeds United transfer situation
Perri took Meslier’s squad number from him, and it leaves the Frenchman virtually fourth choice behind the Brazilian, Darlow and Alex Cairns.
Most expected that Meslier would then secure a transfer away amidst interest from his former employers Lorient, as well as Carlos Corberan’s Valencia, but nothing materialised as a very disappointing deadline day passed by.
It leaves Meslier in the final year of his contract at Elland Road either needing a move to one of the few leagues still able to make transfers, or looking at months on the fringes before an inevitable exit in 2026.
(Action Images/Craig Brough)
His former teammate Stuart Dallas spoke about the ‘keeper this week, backing Meslier to come out of this situation well, no matter the end outcome.
“I’m not sure if he’s forgotten,” Dallas told Comave Italia. “I don’t know if it is the end for him. They’ve signed a goalkeeper, (Lucas) Perri and they’ve obviously got another fantastic goalkeeper in Karl Darlow.
“So I don’t know if it’s the end for Illan, he didn’t leave during the transfer window, so he’s still at the club, he’ll continue to work. Stranger things have happened in terms of players fighting their way back into the fold, Illan’s a good lad, he’s had a fantastic career at Leeds.
“You know, he’s played a lot of games at a very young age and I wish him well, but if he does decide to move on at some point, I don’t know what the plans are, but he can use this.
“He’s come into Leeds and he’s been on an uphill trajectory so he can use this setback to fuel him going forward.”
Illan Meslier needed to leave Leeds United this summer
From the moment he was dropped against Swansea, it seemed obvious to everyone that the best course of action was securing a move away for Meslier.
He doesn’t have a future here and it would be best for him to find a club where he’s going to play, and is out of the limelight that he was stuck under at Elland Road, facing huge pressure constantly.
Now, Leeds frustratingly have an asset they likely can’t clear from the books until January, another PSR opportunity dwindling away.
As Dallas says, though, you’d hope this situation allows Meslier to learn and come out much stronger, as it’s easy to forget he was touted for some of the biggest clubs in Europe under Marcelo Bielsa.
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