Despite Leeds United’s impressive recent form and strong season so far, one player in the squad is starting to stand out as a potential weak link — goalkeeper Illan Meslier.
Leeds are currently flying high after their 3-1 comeback win over Sheffield United on Monday, a result that leaves them five points clear at the top of the Championship table. It was another statement win for Daniel Farke’s side, who have now gone 17 games unbeaten in the league. Many are now backing Leeds to secure automatic promotion and even win the title, especially after the heartbreak of losing in the play-off final last season.
However, if Leeds do return to the Premier League, it’s likely they will need to invest heavily to strengthen the squad. While some believe Leeds’ current team could survive in midtable in the top flight, Farke is unlikely to rely solely on his existing players to compete at that level.
One area that may require urgent attention is the goalkeeping position.
Throughout the season, Meslier has come under fire for a series of costly individual mistakes, including a glaring error in the recent win over Sheffield United. While Leeds’ attacking players covered for him on that occasion, questions remain about his consistency.
Despite those errors, Meslier has still managed to keep 20 clean sheets in the Championship this season — a tally second only to Burnley’s James Trafford. However, his performances have been mixed overall, and there were even reports in January suggesting Leeds were open to selling him.
For now, Meslier remains the first-choice goalkeeper at Elland Road, but football pundit Adrian Clarke believes Leeds will need to move on from him if they earn promotion.
Speaking on the What The EFL podcast, Clarke was blunt in his assessment: “If they go up, the ‘keeper has to go. I don’t want to be too harsh, but he’s had a nightmare of a season. There have been too many nervous, error-strewn performances. He’s capable of brilliance, but you just can’t rely on him.”
Leeds are already exploring potential replacements. Two names have been heavily linked with a move to Elland Road — Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher and Southampton’s Aaron Ramsdale. Leeds have reportedly had Kelleher on their radar for much of the season, while Ramsdale has emerged more recently as a potential target.
Ramsdale, in particular, could become available this summer with Southampton looking increasingly likely to suffer relegation back to the Championship. Both goalkeepers have proven themselves in the Premier League and would represent a significant upgrade in terms of reliability and experience. While signing either would require a substantial transfer fee, Leeds could offset some of the cost by selling Meslier.
Leeds’ next challenge comes against West Brom on Saturday afternoon, where Meslier will once again be under the spotlight.