Leeds United sit at the summit of the Championship table and are runaway favourites to get promoted to the Premier League as the winner of the second tier. Promotion talk has led to speculation over what they would need to do in the summer to strengthen their squad. It is widely expected that Leeds would look to bring in a new number one to replace Illan Meslier after another inconsistent season for the Frenchman. He has been expected to move on from Elland Road in the next transfer window. However, there has been a twist in the tale ahead of the end of the season.
There was a clamour for Meslier to get replaced in the winter transfer window after he made some high-profile errors and cost Leeds United valuable Championship points.
Daniel Farke persisted with the Frenchman and despite another recent error, there seems to be no indication that the Leeds boss would agree to change goalkeepers this late in the season.
However, there has been an expectation that Leeds would bring in a new goalkeeper and Meslier would be allowed to move on from Elland Road in the summer transfer window.
Leeds are said to be eyeing bringing in Aaron Ramsdale from Southampton if they get promoted and a relegation clause in his contract would make the negotiations less complicated given the Saints are expected to go down.
However, it seems Meslier has not received the message yet and the Frenchman has his own plans for his future at Leeds going forward.
Illan Meslier wants to stay put at Leeds United if they get promoted
The Frenchman has come under fire this season for some high-profile errors and his consistency between the sticks has been widely questioned.
Meslier has been the Leeds number one for over five years and no goalkeeper has ever come close to displacing him in the starting eleven in that time.
However, there is acceptance that Leeds need a more reliable number one and Meslier should be moved on once they get promoted to the Premier League.
But according to the journalist Ben Jacobs, Meslier is not reading from the same hymn sheet and he wants to continue at Leeds if they go up to the Premier League.
The Frenchman wants to get another crack at the Premier League and is more than happy to continue at Leeds where he still has a contract until the end of next season.
“I think from Meslier’s point of view, he would like to stay as Leeds’ number one, and naturally be a Premier League goalkeeper”, he said on GiveMeSport.
“So the onus has now shifted on Leeds as to whether they’re comfortable with that or whether they want to keep Meslier, but still bring in competition in that number one spot.”
Meslier divides opinion at Leeds
The Frenchman was thrown into the limelight by Marcelo Bielsa towards the end of the 2019/20 season when they got promoted to the Premier League.
The young goalkeeper looked comfortable between the sticks and he even impressed in the Premier League, leading to interest from some top sides.
However, he struggled in Leeds’ relegation season and his consistency over the last 18 months has been questioned despite a few stellar performances.
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Meslier is a good goalkeeper but his penchant for errors has led to suggestions that Leeds need a more reliable number one between the sticks if they get promoted.
The fans at Elland Road have supported him, but not everyone is convinced about him and there is a considerable section of supporters who want a new goalkeeper next season.
His decision to want to continue at Leeds would lead to some grief amongst the fans who want the club to start working on overhauling the squad as soon as promotion is secured.
The Frenchman still has a contract at Leeds and the onus is now on the club to decide whether they want him inside the building while bringing in another goalkeeper in the summer.
