Leeds United tipped to agree Illan Meslier deal after ‘big’ news – Mills
Danny Mills has tipped Illan Meslier to sign a new contract with Leeds United this summer.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Whites and England defender insisted the club need to protect his value and cannot let him run his contract down.
The goalkeeper, who turned 22 last month, signed a new long-term contract with club last summer (2021) that will keep him at Elland Road until the summer of 2026.
As quoted by Leeds Live last Thursday (28 April), Jesse Marsch revealed he thought Meslier had a “big future” and wanted to keep him at Elland Road for the long-term.
The France Under-21 international has started all 34 of Leeds’ Premier League games this season and has kept five clean sheets in the process.
“He’s a good young goalkeeper,” Mills told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“He’s clearly improving all the time. There’s no thought of replacing him whatsoever.
“If you give him a longer-term contract he retains his value too. Extending it by a year or two, why wouldn’t you? That makes perfect sense.
“With his age profile and the ability that he’s got, without a doubt extend his deal.”
Meslier kept 11 clean sheets in 35 Premier League games last season – the most for any goalkeeper under the age of 21 – with his top-flight tally now at 16 in 69 appearances.
He moved to Leeds from Lorient in the summer of 2019 initially on loan before the deal was made permanent for £5million the following year.
In other news, a Leeds United employee has issued a ‘100%’ verdict on Patrick Bamford’s return after a Thorp Arch reveal.