Who is Marek Rodak? Leeds United transfer ‘target’ has been profiled amid interest in Illan Meslier

The rumor mill is in full swing around Leeds United in this summer’s transfer window, and manager Daniel Farke has a lot to deal with as his side bid for promotion back to the Premier League for the second consecutive season.

Having been named favorites to win the Championship already this coming season, Farke will need to see more of what Leeds have shown in the early parts of 2024 and far less of what has plagued them towards the end of the campaign. But the Whites boss will need to retain at least a few of his key players to go one better than last season and that may be more difficult than many imagined.

Interest in a number of Leeds players from Premier League clubs has led to reports of numerous departures for the likes of Archie Gray, Crysencio Summerville and Wilfried Gnonto, but the exit of a star, too, is that of goalkeeper Illan Meslier. Despite winning a share of the Championship Golden Glove last season and having three seasons of Premier League experience under his belt, the 24-year-old is believed to be keen to leave the Whites this summer in favor of a move to Ligue 1 outfit Marseille .

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A report from French outlet La Provence claims Meslier is in “contact” with Marseille, but manager Farke has repeatedly highlighted his belief that the France youth international is England’s “best” non-Premier player League. After the 1-0 win against eventual champions Leicester City last November, he claimed: “His potential (is brilliant) without a doubt. It can be any goalkeeper at any given time.

“(He’s) incredibly young and it’s important for him to play with confidence. He has the ability to play from the back but needs the confidence to do so, but his potential is outstanding. A diamond like that needs to be supported. Young goalkeepers will make mistakes, but that is to be expected. He is the best goalkeeper in the league.

However, it is unclear whether Farke will be able to keep hold of the star who could force a move, leading to reports now suggesting Leeds are interested in out-of-favour Fulham goalkeeper Marek Rodak as a potential replacement. So with that said, here is Rodak’s profile…

background

The goalkeeper began his career in his native Slovakia, joining MFK Košice in 2013, before receiving a trial at Fulham and joining their academy in July of that year, aged 16. He immediately impressed and was selected for the club’s Under-18 matches on a regular basis. base, becoming their first choice and a vital part of the side that won their second Barclays Premier League title in a row, while also reaching the final of the FA Youth Cup for the first time in 2014.

The following season, he spent two months on loan at Farnborough before moving to Fulham’s under-21 side, a move which then saw him join Welling United in January 2016 on a half-season loan. He then spent the second half of the 2016/17 season on loan at Accrington Stanley, helping them to mid-table, joining as they were deep in the relegation zone.

Rodak made his Fulham debut in the Carabao Cup in 2017, before a two-season loan spell at Rotherham United helped them win promotion from League One to the Championship with a 2-1 play-off win against Shrewsbury Town at Wembley. Since then, he has managed to help Fulham win promotion to the Premier League twice, but has found himself back-up to both Alphonse Areola and Bernd Leno in recent seasons.

Also a regular in the Slovakian national team, Rodak has a distinction that sets him apart from other goalkeepers who have actually scored more than one career goal. The first came for Fulham in a Premier League Under-21 match against Aston Villa in 2014, the second a 94th-minute winner for Slovakia Under-21s in a 2018 European Under-21 Championship qualifier against Iceland.

He has made 22 appearances for the senior side since then and is now part of the 26-man Euro 2024 squad, leading them through the group stage and into the last 16 for only the second time in their history, while face England. today.