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(Credit: Imago)

Jonathan Burnett

Wed 13 August 2025 18:12, UK

Leeds United are ready for Illan Meslier to follow Mateo Joseph out the exit door at Elland Road this summer.

Meslier‘s long-term future in West Yorkshire has been uncertain since he was dropped by Daniel Farke, with seven games to go in last season’s charge to Premier League promotion and the Championship title.

Lucas Perri has since arrived at Elland Road in a £15.6million move from Lyon and has taken Meslier’s number one shirt, leaving the Frenchman’s cards marked and down to third choice in the pecking order.

At the other end of the team, Farke has a dearth of strikers to choose from with Patrick Bamford surplus to requirements and Mateo Joseph forcing a move away, with only Lukas Nmecha through the doors.

Farke’s pursuit of a new number nine has intensified with a U-turn on a target previously deemed as too expensive by Leeds, with a deal in principle agreed for ex-Everton frontman Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Lucas Perri has replaced Illan Meslier at Leeds United (Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media)

Leeds were expected to ramp up their interest in Rodrigo Muniz after the bombshell news that the 21-year-old wanted to leave Elland Road this summer, particularly given Farke’s stance on Bamford’s future.

Joseph has since completed a season-long loan move to RCD Mallorca which leaves Leeds with a dearth of strikers, and the Spaniard posted to his Instagram page on 13 August after his first training sessions.

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In a message liked by the exit-linked Meslier, Joseph said: “First week in the new house and very happy, eager to learn and give it my all alongside this great group.”

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Football Insider Verdict

Leeds’ Premier League place was sealed all the way back on 21 April, but they’ve tried and failed to sign several attacking reinforcements in almost four months since and only succeeded with Nmecha.

With only Nmecha, Championship Golden Boot winner Joel Piroe and youngster Harry Gray to choose from five days out from their Premier League opener, Leeds’ move for Calvert-Lewin is a desperate one.

Aleksandar Mitrovic has also been linked with a surprise move to Elland Road, but with days remaining in this summer’s window ticking down, Farke finds himself in a race against time to complete the Whites’ frontline.

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