Leeds United: Charlie Cresswell transfer exit update after Daniel Farke takes ‘hard line’ – Phil Hay
The “hard line” that Daniel Farke has taken on Charlie Cresswell now only points towards the defender leaving Leeds United, says Phil Hay.
The Athletic journalist spoke on the Square Ball Podcast on 15 January, after the German had indicated the 21-year-old’s focus wasn’t adequate and he wouldn’t play until it was in the build up to the weekend’s win at Cardiff [Phil Hay, 11 January], to say that the “vibes” from inside Elland Road suggested a move would be acceptable for both sides.
The defender “definitely” wants to leave thanks to his lack of involvement and Hay believes the club would let him do so for the right offer, with the sticking point that most exit options would see him strengthen a rival.
Hay said (7m 10s): “You had the issue with Charlie Cresswell also and Farke’s taken a hard line on that, and he does seem like a disciplinarian in these scenarios.
“But it’s hard for me to see a way in which this doesn’t end with Cresswell leaving. You feel as if you’ve seen this dance before.
“And in the circumstances the vibes you’re getting are that Cresswell definitely wants to go and if there was the right offer, or a suitable offer, then Leeds would let him.
“The difficulty is that the huge amount of interest in him is coming from the Championship and you have to be strategic when it comes to letting players go elsewhere and thinking about what they might do that might compromise your own season.
“It seems evident that Leeds would not want him to go to another club that were in the mix with them.”
Unravelled
This season was supposed to be Cresswell’s emergence as a first-team regular at Elland Road after his loan in the Championship with Millwall last term.
Instead it has potentially led to the end of the road at the club where he was tipped as a captain of the future, as an apparent breakdown between him and his manager has developed.
Whether it was Farke regularly overlooking the centre-back for minutes that came first and caused his focus to waver, or if the manager had been leaving him out for that reason all along, is impossible to say from the outside, and likely would get a different answer from either side.
But the manager has shown he isn’t afraid to lay down the law even where it clearly weakens his options, as Djed Spence was sent back to Tottenham earlier this month over another apparent behind the scenes difference of opinion, and he similarly saw no room for sentiment with Luke Ayling before his exit to Middlesbrough.
Leeds United have therefore already seen two defenders leave the squad this month who won’t be coming back, which is also the case for Robin Koch after he agreed a pre-contract to remain with loan club Borussia Monchengladbach, so for a fourth to be on the cards is surprising.
It is all well and good if Farke gets results and other players are clearly playing for him, but if he falls out with too many young talents who big things are expected of but never materialise then it might start to suggest he is the problem.
If Cresswell is to go at this stage it will see the expected succession plan for Liam Cooper disappear just as the captain looks to be in the home straight of his own Leeds United career, so it necessarily increases the pressure on the manager to prove himself right and finish the job of promotion back to the top flight.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites have made a £4million transfer decision after holding talks on a defender signing.