Charlie Cresswell ‘will be pushing’ for Leeds United exit in January amid Southampton loan interest – Carlton Palmer
Carlton Palmer believes Charlie Cresswell “will be pushing” to leave Leeds United in the January window with Southampton interested in a deal.
According to Alan Nixon (11 December) the Saints are interested in taking the defender on loan after he found himself frozen out at Elland Road by Daniel Farke.
Leeds are unlikely to let him go without ensuring they aren’t left short and while speaking to Football League World (13 December), Palmer suggested that the Whites wouldn’t let him go to Southampton on loan but could be tempted to sell if a good offer came in and claimed Cresswell would be pushing to leave.
“Cresswell has struggled for game-time under new boss Daniel Farke – it was thought after a successful loan stint at Millwall last season that he would get an opportunity at Leeds but that has not materialised,” he said.
“Leeds are clear on their stance – they will not loan out Cresswell in January as they look to get promoted this season, and certainly not to a promotion rival.
“Cresswell would fit in at Southampton – he’s very comfortable on the ball and a very accomplished defender. The question is – would Leeds sell him? And that always depends on the offer.
“The player himself is obviously looking for game-time and will be pushing for a loan at least, or even a permanent move in January.”
Expected
Cresswell was handed a new long-term contract in the summer and the number five shirt, so many believed that he was being primed for a key role in our promotion charge considering he was “brilliant” on loan at Millwall last season.
But then Pascal Struijk stayed at the club and Joe Rodon was signed, and suddenly Cresswell found himself as the fourth-choice option behind Liam Cooper too and can barely even get on the bench for games never mind earn minutes on the pitch.
So it’s absolutely no surprise whatsoever that he is probably looking at an exit route away from Elland Road, and Southampton would likely be an attractive proposition to him with their style of play and the size of the club.
But right now Daniel Farke and Leeds need to do what’s best for the club and if that means keeping him for another six months to ensure we’re not light in the position then so be it.
It’s a situation that can be revisited in the summer when we know where we’ll be playing and if he’s in the club’s plans or not going forward but for now the club just has to be a bit selfish.
In other Leeds news, fresh twist in future of big-money ace as new transfer claim made.