Transfer Centre

Agent: 'Illan Meslier turned down Chelsea approach in 2018'

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 05 March 2021

Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier was a target for Chelsea during his time at Lorient, the player's agent Xavier Fluery has confirmed.

Illan Meslier's agent Xavier Fluery has claimed that the goalkeeper turned down the chance to join Chelsea prior to signing for Leeds United.

The 21-year-old has impressed in the Premier League for Leeds this term, earning rumoured interest from Chelsea and other heavyweight clubs.

Meslier was previously linked with a switch to Stamford Bridge in 2018 while at Lorient, where he would go on to spend another year before moving to Leeds, initially on loan.

However, Fluery has suggested that the France Under-21s international could have ended up in West London - or at Monaco - had he been given more guarantees over playing time.

"Both me and Illan believed that there was a greater chance of Illan playing in the first team at Lorient than at either Monaco or Chelsea," he told the LUFCFANZONE podcast. "We knew there was a lot of interest but both Monaco and Chelsea wanted Illan for the future.

"For example, although the talks never reached a concrete stage, Chelsea wanted to buy Illan and send him on loan for a number of years. Because of this, we thought it wasn't a good idea because Illan needed to settle at a club and play. This would not have been the case.

"As a goalkeeper, you need to be number one, if you're not then you can sit on the bench for years. To leave for Chelsea or Monaco for more money, but to not play first-team football and to be away from his family was not a good offer for Illan who, at the time, had regular first-team football in his path at Lorient.

"For sure there are some big clubs that are interested and following Illan, but right now he is in Leeds."

Meslier has made a total of 99 saves in the Premier League this season, which is bettered only by West Bromwich Albion's Sam Johnstone with 105 in the same number of games.