According to Sunday People, as cited by journalist Ross Heppenstall, Leeds United have rejected Sunderland’s approach for Charlie Cresswell. The Premier League club is unwilling to let go of the youngster and wants him to develop at Elland Road. Cresswell’s current contract in Yorkshire expires in 2023, with Leeds United expected to come up with a new deal for the defender.
Charlie Cresswell’s Progress At Leeds United So Far
A native of Preston, Charlie Cresswell is a Leeds United academy product through and through. He first broke into the scene last summer, gaining promotion to the reserve side. He has come a long way since, becoming one of the brightest talents in the academy.
Cresswell subsequently made his competitive debut later in 2020, appearing in a Carabao Cup game against Hull City. Unfortunately, he was not at his best, as the Whites lost in a penalty shootout.
The youngster spent the majority of last season captaining the U23 squad that won the Premier League 2, outperforming multiple top clubs. He made 21 league appearances, scoring two goals.
A centre-back by trade, Cresswell has already impressed a lot of onlookers with his defensive prowess. Standing at 1.83m, he may not be the most imposing presence at the back. But what he lacks in physique, the Englishman can more than make up for it with his positional sense and intelligence in the defensive third, making him an effective and efficient centre-half.
Does He Have Any Future At Leeds United?
Leeds United have invested heavily in their youth department in recent years, bringing in a host of young talents across Europe. But in Charlie Cresswell, they have a homegrown academy star who is more than capable of making an impression at the highest level of football.
Unfortunately, the 18 year old’s scope of making a breakthrough is almost non-existent at the moment. Despite Gaetano Berardi leaving, the club has at least four viable options at centre-back in Diego Llorente, Robin Koch, Liam Cooper and Pascal Struijk.
While Cooper’s fortunes remains uncertain, both Llorente and Struijk have already hit the ground running in the Premier League. But on the bright side, there is certainly a future for Cresswell given that the Whites may not be able to keep hold of their defensive players if they continue to impress in the upcoming campaign.
In that case, remaining at Elland Road could indeed be the best option for Charlie Cresswell. He is currently the club’s fifth choice centre-back and with a new deal reportedly awaiting, a prolonged spell in Yorkshire is on the cards.
