MOT View: 49ers Must Not Succumb to Leeds Player’s Contract Demands

The 24-year-old goalkeeper is contracted with Leeds United until the summer of 2026, but he seems to be preparing for a future beyond Elland Road if the club fails to secure promotion to the Premier League this season.

According to Ben Jacobs (7 September), Illan Meslier is interested in signing a new contract with Leeds, one that would include an exit clause in case Daniel Farke’s team remains in the Championship for a third consecutive season.

Meslier has been a vital member of Farke’s squad since the manager’s arrival last summer, but the club’s owners, the 49ers, should not feel pressured into agreeing to such a clause.

Although his current deal runs until 2026, if Leeds fail to gain promotion again, Meslier’s only realistic exit would be through a sale, which seems unlikely unless he refuses to play.

The possibility of Meslier being sold has resurfaced following updates about the potential exit clause.

His time at Elland Road has been met with mixed reactions, especially after 170 appearances since his permanent signing in 2020.

Meslier shined under former manager Marcelo Bielsa but hit a rough patch when Sam Allardyce dropped him during Leeds’ relegation from the Premier League.

While Meslier was crucial last season, keeping 18 clean sheets in 44 Championship games, his performance was not without errors.

Replacing him would be challenging, even with Karl Darlow and Alex Cairns as alternatives.

However, it may be time to part ways if his focus is not fully on the club.