It has been a busy few days at Leeds United with both the club’s hierarchy and the playing staff busy ahead of the 2024-25 campaign, and a second push for promotion under Daniel Farke.
The transfer team comprising of Nick Hammond, Gretar Steinsson and Jordan Miles have been working hard in the transfer window. The Archie Gray saga ended with the teenager joining Tottenham for £40m.
In return, Leeds have secured the permanent signing of Joe Rodon until the summer of 2028. He joins for a quarter of the fee paid by Tottenham to Leeds for Gray, but could increase if Leeds do get promoted.
Meanwhile, the Leeds players have returned to Thorp Arch to begin pre-season training and undergo the normal testing ahead of a new season. The likes of Willy Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville were seen.
Leeds posted a video of the squad in action, mostly doing gym work and reuniting after the summer. But one player was surprisingly included, and Georginio Rutter teased him:
Leeds man flew out to France on Sunday to agree £3.8m deal
Going into the weekend, Charlie Cresswell’s move to Ligue 1 side Toulouse was deemed as ‘imminent’. The England U21 star endured a dismal season at Leeds last season, failing to live up to the hype.
After relegation, Cresswell signed a new deal having starred at Millwall. He was set to play a key role, but managed less than 10 games under boss Daniel Farke and even annoyed the German halfway through.
So, Cresswell looked set for a £3.8m move to Toulouse and Adam Pope says he jetted off to France on Sunday to thrash out a deal. But in a surprise twist, Cresswell rejected a move due to personal terms.
Charlie Cresswell in Leeds video, teased by Georginio Rutter
It sees Cresswell return to Thorp Arch and begin pre-season with Leeds, though he will know that his failed move to Toulouse is hardly going to be the final story surrounding his future this summer.
The permanent signing of Rodon pushes him down the pecking order. But he was seen in the Leeds training video posted on YouTube (2.30) getting a massage from one of the club’s hard-working physios.
Then, the effeverscent Georginio Rutter strolls in and shouts “bonjour, ca va?” at Cresswell. In French, perhaps linked to his Toulouse move, saying “hello, how are you” to the defender before embracing him.
