Leeds United are ready to offload goalkeeper Illan Meslier in the January transfer window with a number of clubs showing interest in a deal, according to TEAMtalk.
The Whites splashed the cash during the summer transfer window to bring in a new number one goalkeeper in Brazilian Lucas Perri, while veteran stopper Karl Darlow has been playing in recent games in his absence due to injury, leaving the Frenchman out of the mix from Daniel Farke’s plans.
A summer exit was expected after his demotion to number three goalkeeper at Elland Road, but a deal never materialised, and it is now expected that the 25-year-old will be on the move in 2026 with several clubs interested.
Leeds Ready to Accept Cut-Price Fee for Meslier
Meslier, who was previously described as ‘the best goalkeeper in the Championship’ by Farke, struggled for form in the second half of the season last year and eventually lost his place in the run-in to Darlow.
Despite being told his future lay elsewhere during the summer, an exit never materialised as an acceptable formal offer was never made and the player didn’t push to move on. But a move away in January is more than likely, and it has now emerged that Leeds are willing to facilitate that by taking a lesser fee.
Sources have suggested that the club would be open to selling him in January to avoid losing him for free next summer, when his contract is set to expire, and they would be willing to accept a fee that just covers the remaining cost of his contract to get him out of the club.
Serie A giants Inter Milan are believed to be the frontrunners for his signature, as they view him as a potential long-term replacement for current number one Yann Sommer, and they believe the cut-price fee will be shrewd business.
But there are said to be as many as eight other clubs showing an interest in a deal for the former France Under-21 international in January, so it won’t be that easy for them to complete the signing. Meslier’s former club Lorient are also interested, while Valencia, Rangers, Fiorentina, Rennes, Como, Galatasaray and Fenerbahce are also keen.
