Carlton Palmer moots buyback clause for Charlie Cresswell amid Leeds United exit rumours
Leeds United being open to selling academy defender Charlie Cresswell is surprising given his “age and talent”, according to Carlton Palmer.
The former Whites midfielder was speaking to Football League World (11 June) and said he expected the club to include both a buyback clause and sell-on fee should the 21-year-old depart Elland Road this summer.
Cresswell has been mooted for an exit having featured just seven times in all competitions last season, with Palmer suggesting that he’ll want to play more often in the following campaign.
Palmer said: “Given (Cresswell’s) age and his talent, I’m a little surprised that Leeds will listen to offers and let him go.
“But from the player’s point of view, seven games a season is not sufficient and he wants to play.
“Maybe it’s a conversation between him and the club that it’s better to move on. I’m sure Leeds will ask for a buyback clause and a sell-on fee when he leaves.”
Charlie Cresswell looks certain to leave Leeds United
Big things were expected of Cresswell prior to the start of Leeds’ 2023-24 season, after he signed a new contract until 2027 and was given the number five shirt vacated by Robin Koch’s loan move to Frankfurt.
However, five turned out to be the meagre number of Championship appearances Cresswell made over the course of the campaign, including a single start, with only a further two in the EFL Cup adding to his total.
The last of his seven total matches came back in February, after a public address from manager Daniel Farke over his focus and position in the squad saw Cresswell dropped to the Under-21’s [Phil Hay].
Billed as the Whites’ next big thing but barely playing thereafter suggests that the time could be right for Cresswell to look for pastures new, having featured regularly during a loan spell at fellow Championship side Millwall the season prior.
Reports of other interested parties in the English second tier, as well as in France and Germany, give Cresswell no shortage of options this summer, and if he wants to establish a starting place in central defence, the best place to do so may be away from Elland Road [Alan Nixon].
In other Leeds United news, a Patrick Bamford exit verdict has been issued involving high wage considerations.
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