Not many goalkeepers take to their first year in Premier League football in the manner that Illan Meslier has done, let alone doing so as a 21-year-old.
The French youth international keeper has been a key figure between the sticks at Elland Road this season, ending the season as Leeds United’s Young Player of the Season.
🏆 Your 2020/21 #LUFC Young Player of the Year... @MeslierIllan! pic.twitter.com/cRf8f4JY1B
— Leeds United (@LUFC) May 23, 2021
There is no doubt that he is one of the most exciting young goalkeepers in Europe and one of the biggest prospects in the Premier League. Meslier had 11 clean sheets to his name in the Premier League this season which was the joint fifth-highest in the entire league.
That is really impressive considering the offensive style of football that Leeds play and in a system where a lot is expected from every player.
He has been assured and safe in goal, with great distribution and phenomenal reflexes making him such a reliable figure in a goal, and he can only get better with age and cut down further on the rare errors.
Illan Meslier in the Premier League in 2020/21:
— LUFCDATA (@LUFCDATA) May 23, 2021
833 passes
140 saves
35 appearances
24 punches
11 clean sheets
The Leeds number one played more minutes than any other U22 PL player (3,150) and is the youngest ever PL goalkeeper to keep 11 clean sheets.
Fully Deserved. 🏆 #LUFC https://t.co/8JXSdwWDtM
Meslier has been recently called up to the France U-21 squad for the U-21 European Championships, but based on his performances you can surely make a case for him deserving a senior squad call-up.
If he continues like this, it’s a case of when he gets his senior call-up and not if he gets it, with Les Bleus captain Hugo Lloris turning 35 in December.
Marcelo Bielsa praised him earlier in the season for his sensational performances “He’s a player with personality and character and he still has the margin to improve, but what he has shown in the season so far qualifies as a good season.” said the Leeds United head coach.
“Not only because he is young, even if he was 30 years old he would still be graded very well.”
🇪🇺 U21 Team of 2020/21 from Europe's top 5 leagues pic.twitter.com/hrcTfehegv
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) May 26, 2021
The work that Bielsa has put in to get the best out of the young goalkeeper (just like he has done with a lot of other Leeds players) can’t be denied.
Leeds have a gem on their hands, it is only a matter of time before there is interest from clubs across Europe and they must do everything they can to hold on to him.