Leeds United player wants new release clause inserted into Elland Road contract if he is to sign

Add as preferred source on Google

Release clauses have been in the bain of Leeds United’s work in the transfer window over the last 12 months, forcing Leeds to wave goodbye to players on loan or indeed, sell prized-assets.

In the first summer following relegation, it saw eight players allowed to leave the club on loan. It meant Leeds had little chance of selling them and bringing in some cash to then spend on Daniel Farke’s squad.

Two of those eight in Jack Harrison and Rasmus Kristensen have gone on loan again this summer due to release clauses. Four have gone permanently in Robin Koch, Luis Sinisterra, Marc Roca and Diego Llorente.

This summer, Leeds were forced to sell Archie Gray, Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville due to release clauses inserted into deals. Rutter and Summerville’s deals were conducted by the prior regime.

• READ MORE: Two Serie A clubs want to sign Leeds player in January

Illan Meslier wants release clause if he is to sign new Leeds deal

Wilfried Gnonto has penned new terms at Elland Road until the summer of 2028. Italy star Gnonto does not have a release clause inserted into his deal, with Farke publicly stating his dislike of clauses.

But transfer expert Ben Jacobs has told Give Me Sport that if goalkeeper Meslier is to sign a new deal at Leeds, then he will want a release clause inserted. It could be the difference between him signing on.

“From the player’s point of view, if you knew the clause existed for others, or you signed a new long-term deal, and I think this is particularly the case, from what I hear, with Meslier,” Jacobs told Give Me Sport.

“The player may want to protect themselves against the fact that if Leeds don’t go up, they’re stuck on a long-term deal, and maybe they feel their development is elsewhere. So it’s a balancing act,” Jacobs said.

What Meslier said about his future at Leeds in the summer

While Meslier does not find himself in the final 12 months of his contract, he does only have two years left to go. Something The 49ers and Farke will know, and will want to change in the next few months.

Discussing his future at Leeds in the summer after being made one of two vice-captains at Elland Road behind Pascal Struijk, Meslier said he never had any doubts about his future and wants promotion.

“We will start from the first game and not after the international break of last season. It’s always been clear in my mind, I want to go back up with Leeds. There weren’t doubts, or things like this, in my mind.”