Leeds United are facing a goalkeeping dilemma, and surprisingly, their long-time rivals Manchester United might be the ones to step in and offer a solution.
Illan Meslier has endured a poor campaign, making several costly errors that have impacted Leeds’ promotion hopes. Their recent 1-1 draw with Luton Town saw them slip to third place in the Championship standings, falling out of the automatic promotion spots.
In response, manager Daniel Farke finally opted to drop Meslier in favour of Karl Darlow, a change that had been demanded by fans for weeks. The French goalkeeper is now widely expected to leave Elland Road this summer, regardless of whether Leeds secure promotion.
Manchester United eye surprise move for Meslier
According to journalist Alan Nixon via Patreon, Manchester United could make a shock move for Meslier — a development that would certainly raise eyebrows among Leeds supporters.
United’s goalkeeping scout Tony Coton is said to be a long-time fan of Meslier and may push for the club to sign him. However, given Meslier’s error-prone season, Leeds fans would likely find the prospect both baffling and amusing, questioning whether Coton has truly followed the Frenchman’s performances this year.
Potential Meslier move labelled a ‘sackable offence’
It’s unclear whether United are considering Meslier as a backup to Andre Onana or as a potential replacement. Either way, the idea has sparked criticism, with many pointing to the 25-year-old’s repeated mistakes, particularly his struggles with crosses and lack of composure in pressure moments.
Should Meslier make the switch to Old Trafford and continue to perform at his current level, it could reflect poorly on Coton’s judgment. Unless there is a belief that Meslier can drastically improve, this transfer could seriously damage Coton’s credibility — and invite tough questions from manager-in-waiting Ruben Amorim.
