Leeds United make Charlie Cresswell transfer decision as Daniel Farke shares ‘Door Open’ verdict
Daniel Farke has shared that Charlie Cresswell is back involved with the Leeds United first-team squad after deciding to stay at Elland Road this month.
The Whites defender looked set to leave after telling the manager he was unhappy being fourth-choice centre-back behind Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk and Liam Cooper.
But after holding talks in recent days Farke says the “door is open” for the defender to be back involved with the first-team squad after being left out due to his mindset in recent times, with Cresswell saying he “wants to stay”.
“He was in training the last weeks, absolutely professional and open and honest. We agreed, and I also told him, I will not call him to the matchday squad until he is ready to go.
“We had conversations in the last days. He definitely wants to stay. The door is always open. We were pretty clear it was up to him.
“I was not annoyed by this situation, it was very understandable. He was a regular starter in the Championship last season. When you’re not playing too much, you’re overthinking the situation. Right now, the door is open to be reinvolved.”
Phew
It seemed certain that Cresswell was going to be heading out of the door this month and that the club was going to be losing a top quality defender who has a huge future.
His potential is clear for all to see, and it’s the reason why Leeds handed him a new long-term contract in the summer along with a new squad number also.
But it’s fair to say his issues with a lack of game time are justified because he has barely featured, but it’s also fair for Farke not to pick him when Rodon and Struijk have done so well and Cooper is the captain.
There is a long way to go this season and the young defender needs to get his head down, working hard and push forward to get his opportunity and then take it.
The FA Cup clash with Struijk unavailable seems like the perfect chance for him to do that, but if it doesn’t come he can’t lose faith and just needs to trust the process.
In other Leeds news, key first-team trio ruled out of FA Cup clash v Plymouth in injury blow.
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