Illan Meslier reacts to Anton Stach’s message as he ‘cleans up’ at Leeds
Leeds United’s Premier League squad is slowly taking shape with Illan Meslier one player who could be left out of contention.
Leeds are three weeks away from kicking off their top-flight return against Everton on 18 August, and Daniel Farke has signed seven first-team players to help equip his side for a Premier League campaign.
The most recent of these is goalkeeper Lucas Perri, signed from Lyon in a £15.6million deal which is likely to see him immediately become Leeds’ new number one and leave Meslier permanently on the bench.
Meslier’s future has been under a cloud at Elland Road since he was dropped for Karl Darlow after errors in Leeds’ 2-2 draw with Swansea City last season, and Perri’s arrival knocks him even further down the pecking order.
Stach ready to ‘clean up’ at Leeds
Perri is expected to line up between the sticks when Leeds host Everton at Elland Road on 18 August, but Farke’s midfield setup is still up for debate after two key additions in Sean Longstaff and Anton Stach.
Signed for £12million and £17m respectively, Longstaff and Stach will compete with Ethan Ampadu, Ilia Gruev, Brenden Aaronson and Ao Tanaka for a starting place in what’s set to be a 4-3-3 setup next term.
Stach posted on Instagram (28 July) from Leeds’ Germany-based training camp after making his debut against Paderborn on Saturday, and included an edit of himself literally ‘mopping up’ on the pitch.
Meslier was one of several Leeds players to like Stach’s post, which was captioned with: “First days with Leeds United and putting in the work on the pitch – MOT”.
Meslier exit looms to fund the rest of Leeds’ rebuild
Football Insider Verdict
Farke and 49ers Enterprises have so far been successful in reinforcing Leeds’ promotion-winning squad, with a number of key positions strengthened with well over a month of the transfer window left to run.
A top-class striker, winger and number 10 have eluded Leeds so far though, with Manor Solomon still to be replaced after last season’s loan spell and their pursuit of Feyenoord star Igor Paixao at an impasse.
Meslier is one of several players who could yet be sold for a PSR profit to give Leeds more leeway in the market, but it remains to be seen how many serious suitors he’ll have after a campaign marred by several serious errors.