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During the summer, Leeds had a decision to make in their goalkeeping department.
Do they stick with the relatively inexperienced Bailey Peacock-Farrell or place their faith in Kiko Casilla?
The latter is someone who always seems to have a mistake in him. He was sent off against Sheffield Wednesday last season while an error in the playoffs cost Leeds dear.
He came racing out of his goal and missed his clearance as Liam Cooper poked the ball into the path of Jack Marriott to fire home.
Whatever the decision they went with, it would have its pros and cons.
Casilla was linked with a move to Sevilla but he eventually stayed as his competition for a place between the sticks moved onto Burnley.
The 32-year-old has vindicated the trust and was particularly impressive against Barnsley when he made six saves to keep his team in the game.
At present, he is on £40k a week, making him the joint-highest paid player at the club. Whether he deserves it or not is a different matter but once he moves on, Leeds already have a succession plan in place.
It’s one that might not have been possible had Peacock-Farrell departed.
That’s because of the quality of Illan Meslier.
The French ‘keeper arrived on deadline day as an understated signing. Few had heard of the teenager plying his trade for Lorient in Ligue 2.
But this is a club with a history of readying players for English football. Two that come to mind are Laurent Koscielny and Matteo Guendouzi.
The latter was rewarded with a call-up to the French national team in the recent international break and if Meslier achieves the same in the years to come, it would be quite something.
Initially signed on loan, Leeds have an option to buy him next summer, something they will surely do despite his lack of first-team action so far.
The 19-year-old is yet to feature for the senior side and didn’t even appear in the Carabao Cup but he has been in good form for the U23s.
He’s denied two penalties and made a succession of top saves in a 0-0 against Crystal Palace. Following that game, opposition coach Richard Shaw hailed him for those stops.
His colossal figure of 6 foot 6 makes him taller than Casilla by three inches.
It could prove to be a difference-maker too. Leeds’ preferred option has a reputation for his inability to claim crosses – failing to collect a ball into the area 0.29 times per game last term. This is somewhere Meslier could trump him in the future.
When the summer recruit achieves first-team action remains to be seen but this is undoubtedly a signing for the future.
The former Lorient man is a reserved character and arrived from France with a glowing appraisal from a former youth coach.
Meslier may be quiet but he certainly makes up for that with his sheer presence. He is a mountain between the posts and the fact he’s made two saves from penalties already proves that.
The Frenchman has even been linked with moves to Monaco and Chelsea in the past so it was somewhat of a coup that Leeds managed to acquire his services.
That suggests he has a bright future in English football but for now, Meslier is at an age where he simply needs to learn his trade.
Casilla, on the other hand, is at a stage in his own career where he’s unlikely to improve on his qualities. With that in mind, there could be an opening in goal by the time Meslier potentially becomes a permanent signing.
He’s already got the number one shirt at Elland Road after all.
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In quotes relaid by Get Football News France earlier this month, he detailed the following about his relationship with Casilla:
“I knew that Kiko (Casilla) was a great goalkeeper, he was at Real Madrid. So if you are going to have to be behind a goalkeeper in the pecking order, better that they are fantastically good.
“It was not possible to remain at Lorient – Kiko is a great goalkeeper and I am coming to learn by his side. Aside from that, if he does not play, I will be there to give my best.”
How they continue alongside each other will be fascinating to see. For the time being, Casilla is the main man, but the seed has already been planted for a possible succession plan in the future.