Illan Meslier sends message to Daniel Farke after playing for Leeds United reserves

Illan Meslier sends message to Daniel Farke after playing for Leeds United reserves

Illan Meslier returned to action for Leeds United’s under-21 side on Saturday, having been sidelined from the senior setup at Elland Road for months.

His involvement against West Ham United could be viewed as a subtle reminder to head coach Daniel Farke that he remains determined to stay in contention during the closing stages of his contract. The French goalkeeper has not been included in a first-team squad since early December.

Meslier, a key figure in Leeds’ 2024/25 Championship title-winning campaign, has faced a difficult return to Premier League football. Several costly errors last season created an opportunity for Lucas Perri — a £15.6 million signing from Olympique Lyonnais — to establish himself as Farke’s preferred choice between the posts.

Since then, Meslier has largely been left out of the manager’s plans. He has not featured on the bench since the 3–2 defeat at Manchester City in November and also turned out for the under-21s earlier this month against the Blues.

Addressing Meslier’s absence previously, Farke insisted every player remains part of his thinking, even if not currently involved in matchday squads.

He reiterated his admiration for the young goalkeeper, describing him as immensely talented and remarkably experienced for his age, particularly given his exposure to both Championship and Premier League football.

Farke also emphasized the importance of squad depth, noting injuries and illnesses have required flexibility in goalkeeper selection, and expressed satisfaction with the options available.

However, with Meslier’s contract set to expire this summer, it increasingly appears that his time at Elland Road may be drawing to a close.