£5m Leeds United player has ‘good chance’ of making 2026 World Cup after contact from national coaches

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The 2026 World Cup actually makes it more important for Leeds United to win promotion to the Premier League this season.

Though the tournament in the US is the best part of 18 months away, players will already have their eyes set on representing their respective countries on football’s biggest stage.

No Championship club had more players away on international duty during any of the three breaks in September, October and November this season, showing the huge quality in Leeds’ squad.

Leeds were forced into selling Archie Gray, Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter in the summer and a similar story could be on the cards in 2025 if they fall short again.

Angus Kinnear confirmed Leeds’ P&S situation is much healthier as a result of those sales, but a further reduction in parachute payments, as well as players’ ambitions at the top, would mean yet another difficult transfer window is on the cards.

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Graeme Bailey says Illan Meslier eyeing France World Cup spot

In discussing Leeds’ financial position back in September, Kinnear revealed how offers were rejected for the likes of Illan Meslier, Pascal Struijk and Wilfried Gnonto.

All three of those players have been in international reckoning before, with Meslier previously a regular for France U21s, Struijk in Netherlands’ preliminary 2022 World Cup squad, and Gnonto already a 13-time capped senior Italy international.

Another season of Championship football would all but rule out any involvement in the World Cup for them considering the calibre of their national teams, and speaking exclusively to LeedsUnited.News, transfer expert Graeme Bailey has spoken on Meslier’s situation.

Meslier has been linked with Rennes in recent weeks and will have just 12 months remaining on his deal at the end of the season.

Bailey says Meslier will leave Leeds in the summer if a return to the Premier League isn’t achieved, particularly due to the fact Meslier has ‘spoken’ to France national team coaches about the World Cup.

He said: “Meslier is a top-class keeper, when Meslier leaves Leeds he will be a France international and Leeds will hope he can do that at Leeds. I think there’s a good chance he goes to the World Cup with France and the France national coaches have spoken to him about that.”

At one stage a few years ago it had looked as though £5m Meslier was a certainty to replace Hugo Lloris in the French squad after his retirement.

However, his form over the last two years has been abysmal. It has to be said – whether at Leeds or elsewhere – he seriously needs to improve to even stand half a chance of fulfilling that ambition.

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Graeme Bailey shares what he’s heard about Arsenal links to Illan Meslier

Talk about the World Cup has come as a result of some very interesting links between Meslier and Arsenal, who are set to be in the market for a new number two when Neto’s loan from Bournemouth ends.

However, Bailey has been quick to shut down any suggestion Meslier will be that man, stating he has no intention of going anywhere to sit on the bench.

He said: “Why would Meslier be an Arsenal target? We know they want the Spanish lad from Espanyol. Meslier has ambitions to play for France – why would he go and sit behind David Raya? The Rennes stuff is true, loads of clubs in France like him.

“If they don’t get promoted he will leave but he’s not the only Leeds player in that category. Leeds won’t be desperate to get him out. He is a Premier League goalkeeper who is 24. In terms of the Arsenal link, from my understanding he has no desire to be a no.2. Not just Arsenal but a PSG, too.”