Despite rumours surrounding Willy Gnonto’s future, Leeds United must resolve Charlie Cresswell’s Elland Road future and replacement first this January
One of which concerns the future of Charlie Cresswell, who has struggled to make the impact he was perhaps hoping to with the Whites this season, having played only 340 minutes for Daniel Farke so far.
He spent last season out on loan with fellow Championship side Millwall, where he played 30 times at The Den, but had his campaign cut short after fracturing his eye socket late on in the campaign.
The 21-year-old may have been hoping to be afforded more opportunities with Leeds this season following their relegation to the Championship.
Leeds lost Robin Koch, Diego Llorente, and Max Wober over the summer, with Cresswell’s development and experience at this level before stood him in good stead to stake a claim.
He is one of the team’s four center backs, with Joe Rodon and club captain Liam Cooper competing for the final two senior spots at Elland Road alongside him.
In addition, he received the number five shirt for the current campaign, which many fans believed to be a declaration of intent.
In August, Cresswell signed a new contract that would keep him confined to West Yorkshire until 2027. However, it is still unclear in January what the future holds for Cresswell in West Yorkshire.
With only one Championship game and two EFL Cup fixtures to start, the season hasn’t gone as he had intended.
On October 4, Cresswell played his final minute with the first team in the 1-0 victory over QPR.
The 21-year-old failed to even reach the bench in recent weeks after Struijk and Rodon’s dominant partnership and Cooper’s comeback to action. He was not used as a substitute against Bristol City.
That was before the victory over Plymouth Argyle, when Cresswell was clearly fourth choice and Struijk was out with a hernia. Cooper and Rodon started the game.
He is not growing or improving in any way under the current circumstances, and the club most likely needs to give him a loan until this January’s summer. It would be optimal for all concerned parties.
In order to assist Cresswell realize some of the early potential he has showed in spurts, work must immediately begin to find him another temporary home. Championship interest has previously been expressed in him.
Should Leeds replace Charlie Cresswell in January?
It is becoming clearer that the drop-off in quality from Leeds’ starting pair to their reserve centre-backs is fairly stark.
Even so, Cresswell leaving would leave them light in the heart of their defence.
Cooper has a place in the squad and dressing room due to his leadership, but they lack quality ball-players in that area behind Rodon and Struijk. Stylistically, a more athletic, mobile, possession-based player should be signed to replace Cresswell.
There were reports during the summer that Pantelis Chatzidiakos was an option for them, and multiple reports claimed that the West Yorkshire outfit had a real interest in the Green defender and some even said that he had agreed terms to join the club after submitting a €2.5 million offer.
They instead opted for Rodon from Spurs, whilst Chatzidiakos departed AZ Alkmaar for Cagliari.
He is the right type of front-footed, speedy defender that they require from an undervalued market and they need to be pursuing again in January.
Either that, or to dip further into the Premier League loan market for up-and-coming defenders, who have quality on the ball and simply need nurturing with more game time at senior level.
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