Graham Smyth has told a Q&A session on the Yorkshire Evening Post’s website that he has “heard noises” both Illan Meslier and Robin Koch will leave Leeds United in the summer – as Koch looks to advance his Germany ambitions.
Meslier has been axed by Sam Allardyce for the last two League games. But the uncapped Frenchman has certainly garnered a reputation for himself over the years in the Premier League. One of Europe’s best young goalkeepers.
If Leeds are relegated – and perhaps, even if we stay up – you would expect Meslier will have clubs looking to lure him away from Elland Road. It is a different scenario in regards to Koch, who he himself may actually want to move.
Koch is now 26, and about to enter the last 12 months of the four-year deal he signed in 2020. A Germany player when joining, he has lost his place in recent months and will want to win it back in time for Euro 2024, next summer.
Relegation or not, Koch’s ambition has always been to play regularly for his country. Playing in a side at the bottom of the League and certainly, in the Championship, ends his chances of doing so. Smyth said both could leave Leeds.
“We’ve heard noises about Robin Koch and his international dream. There have been noises about Illan Meslier. They are both players I could see departing in the summer should Leeds go down and maybe even if they stay up.”
Smyth has heard noises that Meslier and Koch will leave Leeds
Meslier is hardly surprising given the level of interest in him. It might be time for change for Meslier after four years at Leeds, having initially joined the club in the summer of 2019 from Lorient. There will be plenty looking to get him.
Koch has proven this season – after his first two campaigns being blighted by injury – that he is a Premier League-standard defender. While there are critics, the £38k-a-week man has been one of our most-consistent performers.
He has done enough to earn a decent move. Given his Germany ambitions, you would expect a return to his home country but a Premier League club could easily come in for him – especially, if Leeds do end up suffering relegation.
