Charlie Cresswell should leave Leeds United after Daniel Farke decision
It was only back in August that Charlie Cresswell had signalled his long-term commitment to Leeds United by signing a new contract at Elland Road.
Fresh off a successful loan spell at Millwall last season and helping England to win the European Under-21 Championship, the centre-back signed a deal until June 2027 (official website, 1 August).
“I’m still young, I’m only 20, I’m delighted and happy to be here and it shows the confidence the club and staff have in me by giving me this deal and hopefully I can repay the faith this season,” Cresswell told the club’s official website after his fresh terms were announced.
“I want to play a big part this season, I want to achieve big things in front of the fans and make the people around me proud.”
And yet, less than two months later, Cresswell’s future at Leeds looks quite unclear. He has made three starts in all competitions this term, but only one of those was in the Championship with two coming in the Carabao Cup.
Tottenham loanee Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk have been Daniel Farke’s preferred partnership this term, while Liam Cooper is back now after being injured in the season-opener against Cardiff City.
The captain’s return to action means Cresswell is seemingly even further down the pecking order and he was not even included by Daniel Farke among the substitutes’ bench against Hull City on Wednesday (20 September).
Rodon was sent off in that fixture meaning Cresswell will likely feature at least on the bench when Leeds host Watford at Elland Road on Saturday (23 September).
But beyond that is Cresswell going to be a regular fixture? The Athletic writer Phil Hay, speaking to the Square Ball podcast on Friday (22 September, 34:46) alluded to the fact the 20-year-old is unlikely to accept being sidelined for long.
“I thought it was quite notable that Charlie Cresswell was out of the squad on Wednesday,” Hay said. “The players coming back and (Liam) Cooper being fit again meant there was no space for him in the 20.
“We know there has been a lot of interest in Cresswell, there was last season, we know he had a good season at Millwall.
“If he’s not knocking on the door in the Championship or if he’s not in the squad in the Championship, you can’t help feeling that he’s going to be another one that’s going to start looking elsewhere.”
He may still be young, but Cresswell has already proven he can play at this level. If he cannot force himself into the reckoning at Elland Road then he should start to look elsewhere. Who knows, maybe that will be as soon as January.
In other Leeds United news, Max Wober said his loan exit from Elland was “simply crucial”.