Leeds United looking at Rangers Leon King could be bad news for Charlie Cresswell
Leeds United have history of targetting young players in recent years and it’s a policy that has worked well, particularly in attacking positions of late.
Willy Gnonto, Joe Gelhardt, Sam Greenwood, Crysencio Summerville and Mateo Joseph are just some of the talents that Jesse Marsch can call upon.
Defensively the American is not so fortunate when it comes to younger players. Charlie Cresswell is currently out on loan and Marsch seems content with his senior central defensive options.
However, The Guardian’s Fabrizio Romano has revealed [Here We Go Podcast, 13:08, 10 October] that Rangers’ defender Leon King has been scouted by the Whites and that he is “one to watch” moving forward.
The 18-year-old would be an excellent pick-up from Leeds, providing he doesn’t sign a new contract at Ibrox. The news of the Whites’ interest in King should come as a concern to Cresswell, who has fallen out of the Millwall starting eleven.
Cresswell has performed well in an attacking sense for the Lions but has struggled defensively of late, leading to a change of system from Gary Rowett and his omission from the team.
It has also been suggested by The Sun’s Alan Nixon (Patreon, 9 October) that Championship side Norwich are monitoring the 20-year-old in case anything changes in Leeds’ long-term plans.
It’s understood that he is part of the long-term thinking at Elland Road, but Leeds showing an interest in King could well be the catalyst for a decision on Cresswell’s future to be made.
From a fan’s perspective, Cresswell remaining at Leeds to fight for his place is a must after coming through the academy. If Cresswell remains in Yorkshire after his loan spell and King can be enticed to Elland Road, then there could be an exciting central defensive partnership on the cards.
In other Leeds United news, this player could be first in the Elland Road boardroom as new contract talks may take centre stage