Leeds United summer exit eyed for second transfer in two months after joining Premier League rivals
The goalkeeper left Leeds United for free at the end of last season.
Leeds United summer exit Illan Meslier could leave Arsenal less than two months after joining amid reports of transfer interest from his home country.
Meslier called time on a seven-year career at Elland Road following the expiration of his contract in June. The one-time No.1 had fallen to third-choice in the goalkeeper pecking order and didn’t play a single competitive game last season, featuring a handful of times for the Under-21s.
At the start of July, Meslier’s next move was confirmed with the 26-year-old joining Premier League champions Arsenal on a free transfer. He signed a two-year contract with the option of a further 12 months at the Emirates but has now emerged as a potential transfer target elsewhere.
According to Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna on X, Meslier is one of Marseille’s ‘active leads’ heading into the summer window’s final week. The French club are in need of a new goalkeeper before the deadline and reportedly expressed an interest in Leeds shot-stopper Lucas Perri.
Perri is still a Leeds player and part of a complicated goalkeeper situation in West Yorkshire. The Brazilian is behind £40million club-record signing James Trafford while the YEP understands Eintracht Frankfurt’s Michael Zetterer is being eyed as a potential back-up, should the German club find a replacement of their own.
For Marseille, other options are now being explored with Meslier - who is less than two months into his Arsenal career - among the targets. Many expected the shot-stopper to return to France upon the expiry of his Leeds contract but doing so via the Premier League champions would present a sensational twist.
There is no clarity in the report regarding how Arsenal would feel about losing Meslier so quickly. At present, the Frenchman looks to be manager Mikel Arteta’s third-choice behind clear starter David Raya and back-up Kepa Arrizabalaga. Any potential offer from Marseille could allow the Gunners to turn a quick profit given they signed him for free.
Upon signing for Arsenal last month, Meslier admitted feeling ‘anger and determination’ following a year on the fringes at Leeds. He said: “Last season was a special year, strangely enough for me. Unfortunately, this happens a lot in the careers of players. But I never give up. I keep working very hard every day, training, always being ready for the players who need help.
"I worked a lot mentally because I had a different perspective on football and training. It helped me a lot, to be honest. So I come back this year with a lot of anger and determination. I want to give everything and show my level is still high and that Arsenal did a great job to take me.”