Good-bye: Leeds 21y/o “aggressive player” finally Waves behind Elland road to make a mark elsewhere…

Medical Scheduled with Leeds Set to Sell “Aggressive” Player

Leeds Preparing to Sell a Prominent Academy Graduate

In an effort to comply with the Championship’s profit and sustainability regulations, Leeds United is reportedly set to sell one of their academy graduates. This player is not Archie Gray, as many speculated, but another individual with a medical examination already scheduled.

Recent Developments at Elland Road

The past few months have been challenging for Leeds United. The team narrowly missed out on promotion after losing to Southampton in the play-off final, leading to speculation that they might have to sell Gray. Initially, Gray was rumored to be close to a £35 million move to Premier League club Brentford. However, recent developments have taken a different turn.

Upcoming Transfer of Charlie Cresswell

According to Adam Pope, Leeds United is on the verge of selling Charlie Cresswell, another academy graduate. The transfer to Toulouse is expected to be finalized for just under £4 million, with a medical examination scheduled for next week.

Departure of a Promising Young Talent

Cresswell, who is 21 years old, is leaving Leeds United after not being given consistent opportunities at Elland Road. Despite an impressive loan spell at Millwall in the Championship, he never secured a regular spot in the Leeds lineup. Moving to Toulouse in Ligue 1, Cresswell aims to make a significant impact in senior football. This move should also help Leeds avoid potential PSR sanctions in the upcoming season.

Impact of the Transfer

Although Cresswell’s departure may not generate as much attention as Gray’s would have, it highlights the consequences Leeds faces after failing to secure immediate promotion back to the Premier League.

The Need for Cresswell’s Exit

Cresswell’s playing time was limited to just nine appearances across all competitions last season. It is clear that he needs this move to Toulouse to continue his development. Under manager Daniel Farke, opportunities for Cresswell at Leeds seemed increasingly unlikely. As a young center-back, he needs the regular minutes he enjoyed during his loan spell at Millwall in the 2022/23 season.

Praise for Cresswell

Gary Rowett, the former Millwall boss, praised Cresswell, saying, “He’s been brought up really well with a real hunger for work-rate. He’s an aggressive boy who wants to fight, which is why Millwall was very keen on him despite having other good options.”

Rowett emphasized that loan players need to feel they have a fair chance to play. “He’s not going to be our player at the end of it; he’s going to be Leeds’ player, so we’ve got to do the best job we can along the way,” he added.

Opportunity in Toulouse

Now, with the chance to play in top-flight football with Toulouse, Cresswell must seize this opportunity to prove himself and possibly challenge Farke’s decision next summer.