Club now willing to let goalkeeper leave after talks with Leeds United
Leeds United could now have a free run to land one of their January targets after the latest development, according to a fresh report, as Daniel Farke’s side look to ensure their position atop the Championship.
Leeds flying high in the Championship
Having suffered play-off final heartbreak last season and seen their squad picked apart over the summer transfer window that followed, Leeds have bounced back stronger this season.
As it stands, Farke’s side are on course to be crowned champions come the end of the campaign, though back-to-back draws have cut their lead at the top to just a single point, with both Sheffield United and Burnley breathing down their neck as they look to secure an automatic promotion spot of their own.
All this comes with the caveat of major injuries which the club have suffered in midfield, with both Ethan Ampadu and Illia Gruev missing large chunks of the season with knee problems.
They have another problem though, in the shape of goalkeeper Illan Meslier. The Frenchman has endured a torrid campaign to date, and ranks 25th out of 40 keepers for goals prevented in England’s second tier so far this season, while ranking ninth for save % despite having faced the third fewest shots on target (of goalkeepers playing more than 10 games).
A pair of errors against Hull City saw his side drop two points, and Farke pulled no punches after the game.
“It’s fair to say he had a poor game against Hull and his mistake for the second goal was decisive,” Farke told BBC Radio Leeds. “There were a few games where he could have and should have done better. There were perhaps one or two strikes where you would expect a player of his calibre could save it when he is on the top of his game.”
illan-meslier-leeds-championship-swansea
Now, their hopes of landing a replacement for the Frenchman have just been boosted.
Leeds transfer target free to leave
Earlier in the transfer window, it had been reported that the Elland Road outfit had held discussions over a move to sign Conan Ledesma from River Plate, and now a fresh update has fuelled that fire even more.
That comes as Pasion Futbol [via Sport Witness] report that River Plate boss Marcelo Gallardo is now willing to let Ledesma leave this winter in search of first team football, with the 31-year-old shot stopper having managed just four appearances so far this campaign.
49ers now pondering recalling Leeds 20 y/o from loan spell only to sell him
The goalkeeper, who was once dubbed “sensational” and “world class”, still has three and a half years left to run on his £16,000 a week deal in Argentina, but it is added that he could “consider leaving River Plate and returning to Europe”, with Leeds “very interested” along with clubs from across LaLiga, where he spent much of his career.
Do Leeds need to upgrade on Meslier, or should Farke trust him to come good between now and the end of the season?
We want to hear from you! Share your opinions in the thread below and remember to keep it respectful.
Mess-lier keeps costing us vital points not only this season but last aswell. This season looks just as tough with 4 teams battling it out for 2 automatic promotion spots again. We cannot afford his constant mistakes. He’s awful at corners, flapping at the ball or missing it all together and some of his decision making and distribution is far from assuring. A break from the pressure may be a good idea but also needs some stronger competition for that No.1 spot. Look for a really good keeper that is currently warming the bench. Sam Johnston springs to mind 👍
2025-01-10 14:24:25
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Brendan
Get rid of this hopeless goalkeeper we have no chance of automatic promotion he’s utter hope less same as last year
2025-01-10 17:05:20
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Paul
Get rid of him in this window before his value plummets and is worth next to nothing. He has cost us at least 6 points and you could argue he has cost us as many as 8. if I were in that back 4 playing in front of him I would be at Farke’s office demanding to know why he isn’t getting dropped. If we aren’t going to get another keeper in at least Farke should give Darlow a run of games because it honestly can’t get any worse.
2025-01-10 21:29:15
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Neil
They need an upgrade
2025-01-10 23:17:38
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Neil
They need an upgrade
2025-01-10 15:33:03
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steve
Get rid. His confidence has gone and to be fair he’s always dropped clangers. If your defenders have no confidence in the keeper it makes for chaos. He’s cost us a massive lead this season. These are not just mistakes, they are errors a schoolboy wouldn’t make. That has nothing to do with confidence, it has to do with poor judgement. If teams know you have a dodgy keeper they will play on it. He’s soft, plain and simple. Farke’s support of him is admirable but he’s going to come under fire himself when everybody else can see he’s not reliable. The kid only has himself to blame.
2025-01-10 18:32:47
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Neil
He won’t come good we need a replacement
2025-01-10 20:20:38
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Pat
Opposition teams have figured it out. Drop a high ball into a crowded box and there is a sporting chance IM will fluff his lines.
He has been good, but now a gamble. Perhaps a fresh start would be good for him also. I won’t disrespect his past good efforts, though, to be fair.
2025-01-10 17:18:50
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Nigel
Never heard of him. Looks like either another load of transfer nonsense or another player like Schmidt we will sign and leave on the bench. Getting heartily sick of Leeds lack of ambition! Why would he come? IM ain’t leaving and Darlow can’t get a game
2025-01-10 15:54
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Shaun
Ledesma every time
2025-01-10 16:22:22
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Paul
Using sports witness as a source? Forget it then.
2025-01-10 21:07:31
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