Outcast Leeds United Star Might Be Handed A Lifeline After Injury Reports: What Should Farke Do? | OneFootball

Daniel Farke has been backed by the management this summer, as Leeds United bolstered the squad with ten first-team signings upon their top-flight return. Custodian Lucas Perri was one of them, particularly after Illan Meslier lost his place between the sticks. They failed to offload him this summer; however, the outcast Frenchman might be reintegrated between the sticks amid a report from FourFourTwo, citing Perri’s training injury.

While the gaffer is expected to reveal the details during Thursday’s press conference ahead of travelling to Fulham for the weekend encounter, the Brazilian’s potential absence would be a significant blow considering their mixed start to the Premier League campaign with a win, a draw and a defeat each before the international break.

Although they conceded five goals at the Emirates, Perri kept two clean sheets at Elland Road, exhibiting his expertise and composure in the last line of defence. Fakre might now rely on Karl Darlow, who replaced Meslier as the Whites’ “number 1” following several high-profile mistakes towards the closure of the previous season.

LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 11: Illan Meslier of Leeds United during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Leeds United at Stamford Bridge on December 11, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

Why Meslier Might Still Feature For Leeds United

Meanwhile, the 34-year-old Wales international, currently being preferred as the second-choice behind the Selecao star, suffered a shocking League Cup defeat last month against the struggling Sheffield Wednesday in the tie-breaker. He previously featured in the Premier League during his tenure at Newcastle United as the understudy to Tim Krul and Martin Dubravka. Yet Meslier, despite the inconsistency, spent three successive top-flight seasons as a regular before their relegation to the Championship a couple of years ago.

The 25-year-old former France youth international spent his youth years at Merlevenez and Lorient before securing a first-team status for the latter in Ligue 2. Marcelo Bielsa brought him to Leeds United in the summer of 2019 and eventually relied on him in their promotion push after Kiko Casilla’s eight-game suspension for racial abuse. He was exquisite with 7 clean sheets in 10 league appearances, and therefore, grabbed the starting status from next season onwards, until the final few gameweeks of the 2024-25 campaign.

The Yorkshire giants would expect to have Perri back at the earliest, but a failed transfer could now see Meslier revive his career in English football. He was linked to a move to Trabzonspor in Turkey, where the window is still open. But they opted for Manchester United’s Andre Onana, thus putting an end to the summer exit speculations. It remains to be seen now whether Farke restores him or relies on Darlow for the time being.