Daniel Farke to sign off on £3m Charlie Cresswell exit decision at Leeds United
Don Goodman believes Daniel Farke will ultimately have the final say on whether Charlie Cresswell departs Leeds United this summer – and fully expects that scenario to play out.
The academy graduate struggled for appearances last season and has subsequently been linked with the Elland Road exit.
Alan Nixon reported on 9 June that Ligue 1 side Toulouse, plus Bundesliga pair Hannover and Hertha Berlin, are interested in Cresswell.
A fee of £3million has been mooted, which Goodman reckons would be good business all-around if Farke has no plans for the defender.
“At this moment in time, I see Charlie as a decent player, someone who did well out on loan at Millwall, but I don’t see him as a top player that would command a place in a team chasing automatic promotion – and that’s the only thing Leeds are chasing next season,” Goodman told MOT Leeds News.
“As of yet, I don’t personally see him as a player that will play week in, week out for a top two or three Championship team, so with that in mind it’s important he gets regular first-team football and builds his own career. He needs to follow a path that’s right for him and nobody else.
“A move away is beneficial for all parties really if Daniel Farke doesn’t consider him a regular starter, and Leeds United do need to balance their books and every little helps. To get £3m for an academy player, that’s a reasonable deal for all concerned.”
Leeds United could still do with Charlie Cresswell
Fans love an academy graduate, and Cresswell showed while out on loan with Millwall that he is a capable player at Championship level.
The problem is that Farke clearly does not fancy the youngster – at least not on a regular basis – and Leeds are not in a position to stockpile talent.
As Goodman points out, Leeds could do with raising funds through player sales, and offloading Cresswell for a sum of around £3m is a tidy profit.
In an ideal world, Cresswell would remain a squad player and develop into a first-team regular over time. However, this is not an ideal world Leeds are in.
If a handful of squad players are to be moved on rather than one big-value player such as Archie Gray, for example, then that is a route that makes sense.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites are reportedly set to rival Southampton for a midfield player.
For more Leeds news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.