Phil Hay expects Leeds United to clear up Charlie Cresswell ‘mess’ within days after transfer developments
Phil Hay expects the future of defender Charlie Cresswell at Leeds United to be cleared up “in the next few days”.
Cresswell has started just one Championship game for Leeds since returning from a loan spell with Millwall last season.
The 21-year-old has not featured at all since August and is often overlooked entirely for squad selection, despite various defensive injuries this term.
With the transfer window set to close in less than a week’s time, The Athletic’s Hay has suggested a decision on Cresswell is now imminent.
“There’s the Cresswell situation, which you’d think is going to have to get addressed in the next few days,” he said on The Square Ball podcast [26 January, 25m 37s].
“Otherwise, there will be a scenario where he can’t move and he isn’t playing – I don’t see who that benefits, although it’s clearly Daniel Farke’s prerogative to sort that one.”
When asked by host Dan Moylan if the situation has now become a “mess”, Hay replied: “It has, yeah.
“It’s not been a surprise to see Cresswell wanting to go out and play, because he had a full season at Millwall and is dead-set on getting minutes and dead-set on developing by kicking a ball, but it has become problematic.”
Sad
Cresswell’s situation really has been bizarre, and it’s even more surprising that his future has not been resolved this late in the window.
A number of fellow Championship sides have been linked with the centre-back, including Millwall, where he impressed on loan last time out.
The Thorp Arch product was expected to play a prominent role under Daniel Farke this season, but it just has not turned out that way.
Farke does not even consider him a squad player, despite having to use square pegs in round holes at times this season.
It now seems certain Cresswell will depart Elland Road over the coming days, likely on a permanent basis but possibly on loan for now.
The whole situation is quite a sad one considering Cresswell’s been at the club since 2013, but that is the life of a professional footballer.
Leeds fans will just wish him the best if he does depart, albeit without wishing Millwall well if he ends up there.
In other Leeds United news, a Sky Sports reporter has shared details of a U-turn made by a Whites player live on air.
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