Leeds United player’s exit surely all but sealed after being stripped of shirt number for AC Milan

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Leeds United have players to offload before the deadline, perhaps even more so than the need to make signings right now.

Of course, Leeds United require signings and exits. However, there are more players needing to find a new home than there are fresh faces to come in.

Seven players might leave Leeds, or at least the vast majority of them should be loaned or sold. One of those is Illan Meslier.

The Leeds goalkeeper was left out of the AC Milan game today. That was one nail in the coffin, but perhaps a final nail has since been hammered in since.

• READ MORE: Tony Dorigo outlines what Leeds United ‘need’ in the transfer window following AC Milan draw

Leeds’ Illan Meslier stripped of number-one shirt number

A number of Leeds squad numbers have been slowly revealed throughout pre-season, even if they are not totally finalised.

The first six signings of Leeds’ summer window have all been handed first-team numbers already. Anton Stach was given 18 and the latest player to make a debut in pre-season, until today.

In goal, Lucas Perri started against the Serie A giants. Not only that, but it was revealed he was set to take Meslier’s number.

There is a chance this is not the final list but Perri being first-choice and with the No.1 jersey is another telltale sign that Meslier’s career at Leeds is over.

Patrick Bamford was told to leave the club and that he had no future with the side earlier this summer. It’s plausible that the same treatment could now come Meslier’s way.

He has spent six seasons with Leeds so far, but was perhaps only retained prior to Leeds bringing in Perri. Now, his position has been made clear, even if Daniel Farke refuses to admit it publicly.

• READ MORE: Gary Kelly picks his combined Leeds United and AC Milan XI, including Raphinha and Mark Viduka

Daniel Farke’s Illan Meslier comments after AC Milan game

Farke spoke post-match to address the situation but Meslier’s absence spoke a thousand words to everyone else, irrespective of his words.

Farke said Meslier was not needed in the travelling party to Ireland because he was playing two and had Alex Cairns in reserve.

He added that stripping him of the shirt was “not a decision against Illan” but a show of faith for Perri’s confidence to “make him welcome”.

He states that it is that rather than an action against Meslier. However, fans will know that these things usually only end one way.

• READ MORE: Seven Leeds United players who should follow Mateo Joseph and Joe Gelhardt out the exit door

Leeds’ current squad numbers revealed after AC Milan draw

The list in full of Leeds’ squad numbers is listed below, with full confirmation expected to come this week.

• 1. Lucas Perri
• 2. Jayden Bogle
• 3. Gabriel Gudmundsson
• 4. Ethan Ampadu
• 5. Pascal Struijk
• 6. Joe Rodon
• 7. Dan James
• 8. Sean Longstaff
• 9.
• 10. Joel Piroe
• 11. Brenden Aaronson
• 12.
• 13.
• 14. Lukas Nmecha
• 15. Jaka Bijol
• 16.
• 17. Largie Ramazani
• 18. Anton Stach
• 19.
• 20.
• 21. Alex Cairns
• 22. Ao Tanaka
• 23. Sebastiaan Bornauw
• 24.
• 25. Sam Byram
• 26. Karl Darlow
• 27.
• 28.
• 29. Willy Gnonto
• 30.
• 33. Isaac Schmidt
• 38. Jack Harrison
• 44. Ilia Gruev
• 45. Harry Gray

There are still holes to fill, with 12, 16, 19, and 20 the numbers which particularly catch the eye.