Leeds Exclusive: Two top clubs register interest in signing Illan Meslier in January
AC Milan and Inter Milan have registered their interest in Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier heading into January, sources have told Football Insider.
The 25-year-old is out of contract next summer and is set to leave Elland Road either in January or at the end of the season.
AC Milan and Inter Milan are both exploring the goalkeeper market with doubts over the long-term futures of Mike Maignan and Yann Sommer, who are both out of contract next summer.
Meslier has dropped down Daniel Farke’s pecking order over the past 12 months and is now third choice behind summer arrival Lucas Perri and Karl Darlow.
The Frenchman’s potential availability as a free agent next summer makes him an attractive option to the Milan duo.
Daniel Farke clear on Illan Meslier position
Meslier has yet to make an appearance for Leeds since their return to the Premier League and has only been named in the matchday squad on five occasions.
The shot stopper lost his spot to Darlow towards the end of last season in the Championship, and has not been favoured since by Farke.
Despite Farke’s clear stance that Meslier would not be Leeds’ number one in the Premier League, the Frenchman remained in Yorkshire.
Newcastle and Aston Villa were both interested in Meslier in the summer amid a need to add more depth in their goalkeeping department.
Lucas Perri undisputed number one
Leeds’ new number one Perri has been criticised in-between the sticks at times this season, but Farke has no concerns about the position.
Perri joined Leeds from Lyon in a £15million move in the summer and has kept two clean sheets in 11 Premier League appearances for the club.
Darlow deputised, instead of Meslier, for Perri when the Brazilian missed five league games due to injury, but he came straight back into the starting XI when fit again.
The Whites are more concerned about their attack rather than their defence, with Leeds working on signing a new striker ahead of the January window.