Illan Meslier looked disappointed after failing to save Brad Potts’ shot that allowed Preston North End to take the lead in the first half against Leeds United on Saturday. The Frenchman was aware that it would have been a regulation save and he should have done better to stop the shot from getting into his goal. He has been the Leeds number one for more than four years but questions are being raised over his future.
There were rumours earlier this month that he is attracting interest from France ahead of the winter window. However, Leeds are in no mood to sell the Frenchman in January.
However, his performance at Preston has set tongues wagging about his long-term future at the club. Meslier has been the undisputed number one at Leeds for years and has never been challenged for a place in the team.
But there are now concerns about whether the lack of competition for his place in the team has affected the Frenchman. Meslier never had anyone behind him who has pushed him for the number one spot and he has been the clear first-choice goalkeeper at Elland Road since the end of the 2019/20 season.
There is no reason to lose patience with Illan Meslier yet
It is hard to forget that despite featuring close to 200 times for Leeds, Meslier is still only 24 and is nowhere close to reaching his peak as a goalkeeper. The fact that a club of Rennes’ size in France are interested in him shows how highly rated he remains in Europe.
The calls for Meslier to get dropped from the team are far too early as he has provided stability behind the defence with his assured performances despite the occasional lapses.
Meslier has been a constant for Leeds during a period of upheaval and everyone knows how important it is to have a stable goalkeeper between the sticks for any team.
Leeds do not have another goalkeeper who is of the Frenchman’s quality and chopping and changing in that area of the squad will needlessly destabilise the team.
Given Leeds’ domination of territory in most games, Meslier is not called upon too frequently to make saves and he averages 1.4 saves per game. The lapse at Preston was more of an outlier and he has been consistent between the sticks this season.
Only Plymouth’s Michael Cooper and Burnley’s James Trafford have kept more clean sheets than Meslier in the ongoing Championship campaign.
His ability on the ball is also important for Leeds’ build-up play and he averages more than 30 passes per game from the goalkeeping position. Meslier tasks risks on the ball but still rarely gives away possession and it is the kind of stability that the Leeds United boss craves.
Do Leeds United need to look for a replacement for him anytime soon?
Meslier has a contract until the end of next season with Leeds. However, next summer is expected to be key in deciding his long-term future at Elland Road.
Leeds are likely to offer him a new contract if they get promoted to the Premier League at the end of the season. However, Meslier is almost certain to leave if the Whites are to spend one more season in the Championship.
Despite his wobbly time in the Premier League previously, Meslier remains a highly-rated goalkeeper and he has ambition of playing for France in the future.
Another season in the Championship is something he is unlikely to want to experience and so promotion is going to be key if Leeds want to hold on to him.
The Leeds recruitment team are expected to look at goalkeeper options moving forward but ideally, they would want Meslier to start next season between the sticks for them in the Premier League.
