Leeds United are vying for automatic promotion to the Premier League this season and are currently well-positioned, with Daniel Farke guiding Leeds to second place after 19 games.
But anything other than promotion this season will be deemed a failure after Leeds suffered play-off final defeat last season. The pressure is on Daniel Farke to get Leeds back into the top tier of English football.
Like last summer however, failure to get promotion this season will see another summer in which an influx of players depart. Crysencio Summerville, Georginio Rutter and Archie Gray left in the recent summer.
There are a number of players who are likely to consider an exit next summer if Leeds don’t go up, with Junior Firpo out of contract and Wilfried Gnonto constantly linked. But another mainstay could depart.
Graeme Bailey tells us Leeds United star will go if not promoted
Indeed, Leeds will have to cash in and Angus Kinnear has already said that next summer, without going up, will look like the one just gone. Graeme Bailey has told LeedsUnited.News that Illan Meslier will go.
This week, Meslier has been linked with a move to Rennes. The Frenchman has been considered by the Ligue 1 club as a long-term replacement for Steve Mandanda, alongside PSV stopper Walter Benitez.
Bailey told us: “He’s very highly regarded in France. Meslier has got his eyes on the World Cup squad in 2026. If Leeds don’t get promoted, he will leave. I don’t think any Leeds fans will want to stand in his way.
“Meslier is one that if they go back to the Premier League, we will see. He won’t leave in January. They aren’t in the business of selling in January, unless it’s the business of selling one to bring another in.”
Illan Meslier tops clean sheet charts, but the stats are worrying
Meslier has 11 clean sheets in 19 Championship games this season, after winning the Championship’s golden glove alongside West Brom’s Alex Palmer last season. He is joint first time around, as well.
He, James Trafford and Michael Cooper all have 11 so far. But delve a little deeper and the clean sheet stat might be more down to the defence in front of him, rather than Meslier’s form between the sticks.
| Position | Name | Club | Games | Clean sheets | GA | % of shots saved |
| 1st | James Trafford | Burnley | 18 | 11 | 7 | 83.3 |
| 2nd | Michael Cooper | Sheffield United | 17 | 11 | 9 | 79.1 |
| 3rd | Aynsley Pears | Blackburn | 18 | 8 | 17 | 79.0 |
| 4th | Alex Palmer | West Brom | 19 | 9 | 14 | 77.8 |
| 5th | Viktor Johansson | Stoke | 19 | 5 | 24 | 76.2 |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 13th | Illan Meslier | Leeds | 19 | 11 | 13 | 67.5 |
Indeed, Cooper and Trafford have the best save percentage among the Championship goalkeepers. But Meslier is way down in 13th, saving just 67.5% of shots he has faced, conceding one every three shots.
If Leeds are to sell some players in the coming months, whether that be January or next summer, maybe the sale of Meslier might be one The 49ers are open to. Leeds fans are keen to see the back of Meslier.
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