Premier League winner backs Illan Meslier to return next season – Will the 25 year old be Leeds United first choice?
Many Leeds United fans will point to that game against Swansea City last month as the turning point in the season. It ultimately resulted in the Whites winning Premier League promotion.
Daniel Farke’s men booked their place in the top flight for next season. They did it in style, thrashing Stoke City 6-0 at home before they got the news that Sheffield United had failed to beat Burnley at Turf Moor.
Leeds strung together a four-game winning run to seal promotion. And you could argue that it all started after the Swansea game. Daniel Farke chose to bench Illan Meslier after he made two errors that saw his side drop points. Karl Darlow has stepped in since, and the team have been at their best. This has lead to reports that Meslier will seek to leave Elland Road in the summer.
NewsPremier League winner backs Illan Meslier to return next season – Will the 25 year old be Leeds United first choice?by Kwadwo HemengApril 22, 2025
Many Leeds United fans will point to that game against Swansea City last month as the turning point in the season. It ultimately resulted in the Whites winning Premier League promotion.
Daniel Farke’s men booked their place in the top flight for next season. They did it in style, thrashing Stoke City 6-0 at home before they got the news that Sheffield United had failed to beat Burnley at Turf Moor.
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Leeds strung together a four-game winning run to seal promotion. And you could argue that it all started after the Swansea game. Daniel Farke chose to bench Illan Meslier after he made two errors that saw his side drop points. Karl Darlow has stepped in since, and the team have been at their best. This has lead to reports that Meslier will seek to leave Elland Road in the summer.
QUIZ: Can you name the Leeds game these 10 goal celebrations are from?
1 of 10
1.Liverpool (4-3) 2000
Bradford (6-1) 2001
Man Utd (1-1) 2001
Chelsea (2-0) 2001
Joe Hart backs Leeds United star ahead of next season
Credit: Imago Images
Over the past few weeks, the club has been linked with multiple keepers. Leeds will reportedly sign a new number one this summer. However, Former Manchester City keeper Joe Hart has said he believes Illan Meslier is good enough to play in the Premier League next season:
“I just can’t work it out. I remember when [Meslier] first came to the Premier League, I remember him playing against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup for Leeds when he was really young, and I thought, ‘Wow, who’s this goalkeeper?’.” he told Football Daily.
“Baby-faced, but was incredible, great left foot, absolute cat. He just seems to have let some disappointing goals in at big moments this year.
“There’s a top goalkeeper in him. Whether he’s going to get another chance, who knows? I don’t know his contract situation. Everyone will see every day that there’s a top goalkeeper there. But whether they’ve got the patience to let him see what he can do in the Premier League, I don’t know.”
Does Illan Meslier deserve another chance?
As it stands, any relationship between Daniel Farke and Illan Meslier is too far gone. There have been reports that the Frenchman is already looking for a way out of Elland Road. With Farke haven taken such a bold decision that has resulted in promotion, it will be hard for the Leeds boss to go back on his word.
And on Meslier’s side of things, returning to become first choice will come with a different kind of pressure – he knows that any mistake will see him benched. And that could even cause him to make more mistakes. The best thing for Leeds and Illan Meslier to do this summer is to part ways.
The Whites have already lined up his replacement, Wolves stopper Sam Johnstone is a major target.
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