Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier has expressed his desire to leave the club amid demands for a new goalkeeper at Chelsea.
The French goalkeeper is currently in training camp with the France U21 team and is preparing as they will be playing in the European Championship qualifiers in the upcoming days.
But his club future is still unsure as the 23-year-old lost his position as the starting goalkeeper at longtime club Leeds United. He had to sit on the bench for the season’s final four Premier League games. He was replaced by Spanish goalie Joel Robles as he had made a lot of mistakes in the previous games.
Unfortunately, Leeds were also relegated at the end of the season, with Everton narrowly beating them to survival. They will now be back in the Championship after three years in the Premier League.
Obviously, with relegation, the club will also see many players leave. Biggers clubs will vulture on the team and try to attract the best talents.
Leeds has also now been sold to the 49ers group, which means the entire club will go through a revamp both institutionally and teamwise, with the potential to turn into a competitive team and win a loyal fanbase, resulting in fans to explore at online casino for an opportunity on a win-win situation.
However, this shift in ownership has also put further emphasis on many players wanting a move.
What did Illan Meslier say?
The French goalkeeper spoke in an interview with popular French media RMC. He was asked where he sees his future next.
“For now, I have a contract until 2026. Officially, I still belong to Leeds. I will have to think about what could be the best project, be that at Leeds or another club.”
In January, Chelsea were the first to be linked with a transfer move for Illan Meslier. But he apparently doesn’t want to go to a team where he won’t be in the starting XI.
When pressed about the link with Chelsea, he said, “If it is to go and be on the bench, I’m not interested in that. If it’s to be the number one, of course, you can’t say, ‘I’m not interested in Chelsea.’ I’d prefer to go to a less reputable club where I’ll have more game time than a top European club where I’d sit on the bench.”
Chelsea to go for Meslier?
While Meslier did not have a good season, having conceded 67 goals and being relegated and dropped from the team, he is still a good goalkeeper. In his three-year stint in the Premier League, he has been impressive, showcasing awesome shot-stopping ability.
So it is not surprising that Chelsea is interested in the player.
Currently, Chelsea will go through a rebuild with many players leaving. Manager Mauricio Pochettino has asked the club to let go of many players in the summer.
First-choice keeper Edouard Mendy is close to leaving, with Pochettino asking the board to let him leave. Injury issues and many individual mistakes mean his career at Stamford Bridge is over. His backup keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga is also not guaranteed to be a starter for the Argentine manager next season.
As such, if Chelsea moves in for the player, it will be hard to say no. Chelsea can easily afford the fees for the player, and we could see a new man between the goal bars at Stamford Bridge next season.