Leeds United are ready to cash in on a Thorp Arch academy product for a bargain £3m with French and German clubs interested, after he fell out with Daniel Farke earlier on this year.
Leeds need to generate cash this summer and there are expected to be a number of player sales so The 49ers can pay off the credit card bill they inherited from Andrea Radrizzani, when buying the club.
Those that used Victor Orta’s loan clause are expected to leave permanently, while a handful of current Leeds players could exit. Jon Newsome predicted Crysencio Summerville, Willy Gnonto and others to go.
But other fringe players could depart and one of those is Charlie Cresswell. The 21-year-old has endured a dismal season at Elland Road, his campaign voted at a 1/10 in LeedsUnited.News’ season player ratings.
So much so that he annoyed Daniel Farke earlier in the season over his lack of game time, in which the Leeds manager publicly said that Cresswell would not be playing if he did not improve his attitude.
Charlie Cresswell has interest from German and French clubs
Cresswell returned to Leeds last summer having impressed at Millwall on loan and even scoring five goals. He even signed a new contract at Leeds, expecting to play regularly for the Yorkshire side in 2023-24.
But it didn’t go to plan, ending up with just seven senior outings and little over 300 minutes of first-term football. An exit seems inevitable this summer and now, Leeds are ready to sell the “brilliant” star for £3m.
A bargain, given AC Milan were said to be interested in January. Now, The Sun claim in Sunday’s paper edition (page 55, 09/06) that French side Toulouse and second-tier German club Hannover are interested.
Cresswell needs to leave Leeds this summer, he is pure profit
Given Cresswell is a product of the Thorp Arch academy, his sale will hand Leeds 100% profit. In the eyes of Financial Fairplay and Profit & Sustainability, that’s good news in the club’s bid to abide by the rules.
However, Leeds have lost options in the middle of the defence. Joe Rodon has returned to Tottenham and while Leeds will be keen to keep him on board, a deal for the Wales man seems unlikely at this stage.
Liam Cooper was expected to go but the club’s retained list confirm that actually, Farke’s men are in talks with Cooper over a new contract. So there is a growing need for a centre-back and that may be Cresswell.