Charlie Cresswell exit on cards at Leeds United as clause emerges in contract
Leeds United might be resigned to losing one of their young stars after it was reported that there is a relegation buy-out clause in Charlie Cresswell’s contract.
The Mirror’s print edition (2 June, page 54) has reported that Cresswell might leave the Whites this summer, despite calls for him to jump into the first-team at Elland Road.
The 20-year-old spent the season on loan at Millwall, where he made 28 appearances in the Championship, scoring five goals and registering an assist.
The Lions could certainly be a club interested in making Cresswell’s stay permanent.
Millwall boss Gary Rowett told the South London press: “He is going to be a top centre-half and a top player – certainly in the second half of the season we saw that oozing out.
“He was absolutely fantastic before his injury. He was a really big loss to us.
“He has developed well and shown what he is about. Another strong season next year and he is not far away from being a Premier League player.”
Decision time
Whether or not it is in a Leeds shirt, Cresswell will want to have his future clarified swiftly so that the young centre-half can focus on his football and development.
One thing is for certain, Cresswell put in some very strong performances in the Millwall side which pushed for promotion from the Championship, which proved that the Preston-born defender is capable of playing at that level.
With that Championship experience under his belt, an incoming Leeds manager may want to assess Cresswell and perhaps utilise him as an option next season.
With all the uncertainty surrounding the Whites at the moment, the future of their players will be something that fans will want clarity on sooner rather than later, and they may regret losing a young talent such as Cresswell if a club opts to activate this reported clause in his contract.
The door is certainly open to every possibility across the next couple of months.
In other Leeds United news, there is another player potentially on their way out, who the club won’t stop.