Manchester United are interested in signing Charlie Cresswell from Toulouse ahead of the summer window, just two years after Leeds United sold the defender.
Ben Jacobs revealed, speaking on The United Stand, that Manchester United are actively tracking Charlie Cresswell as part of their defensive shortlist. The England U21 star has been on fire in Ligue 1.
“One player they really like that’s a new name that I can bring to the mix, is Charlie Cresswell, who used to be at Leeds United, England U21 international. Wolfsburg came very close to signing him in January.
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“I was there since I was 11. I wanted to live that dream. I wanted to play for Leeds. I wanted to be part of that journey, but these things happen in football.
“You don’t always get your way and your path’s meant to go in a different direction, but it’s turned out well. I couldn’t be happier.”
Charlie Cresswell on leaving Leeds – The Athletic, 2025
Charlie Cresswell celebrates scoring for England's U21 side against Azerbaijan.
Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images
“But they were not able to meet the Toulouse valuation, so he’s still there, he’s playing every week in Ligue 1, and along with a few other names, he’s one of the profiles that Man United are looking at.”
For Leeds United, it is also a reminder of how little they used him before moving him on.
Leeds and Daniel Farke let Cresswell drift out of the picture
Cresswell made just 14 senior appearances for Leeds before his exit in July 2024. For a player widely expected to play a bigger role in the 2023-24 season, the numbers were clear.
Daniel Farke’s stance was decisive. Speaking in January 2024, the Leeds boss said “the ball is in his court” and made it clear Cresswell would not be selected until he was mentally ready.
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By that point, he had played just one minute since the defeat to Salford City. The message was simple. He was no longer part of the plan.
Charlie Cresswell reacts during EURO U-21 2025 Final between England and Germany.
Photo by Christian Bruna/Getty Images
Leeds sold him to Toulouse that summer for a reported £3.8 million, ending his time at Elland Road with limited first-team exposure and no consistent run in the side.
Toulouse gave Cresswell what Leeds did not
The contrast since that move is immediate and measurable. Cresswell has made 60 appearances for Toulouse since joining in July 2024, establishing himself as a regular starter in France.
This season alone, he has featured 19 times in Ligue 1, playing more than 1,700 minutes, while also contributing three goals and one assist from centre-back.
Those are not the numbers of a squad option. They reflect a player trusted week in, week out. At Toulouse, he has been given what Leeds never did under Farke. Minutes, responsibility and a defined role.
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That level of consistency has not gone unnoticed. Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United were both linked with moves in January. Wolfsburg also pushed, but were unable to meet Toulouse’s valuation.
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Now Manchester United have joined the list. Jacobs’ claim that they “really like” Cresswell places him firmly on the radar of one of the biggest clubs. It also highlights how quickly his standing has changed.
Reports have suggested Toulouse value him at around £22m. While figures vary depending on the source, the direction of travel is clear. He is a regular Ligue 1 defender with multiple clubs tracking him.
Leeds sold Cresswell too early, he deserved more of a chance
Leeds United gave Charlie Cresswell 14 appearances. Toulouse have already given him 60. That gap is the story. Manchester United’s interest is not about an imminent transfer.
FBL-FRA-LIGUE1-TOULOUSE-AUXERRE
Photo by VALENTINE CHAPUIS/AFP via Getty Images
It is evidence of where Cresswell now sits in the market and how far he has progressed since leaving Elland Road. Leeds moved him on after questioning his readiness and limiting his opportunities.
Toulouse have done the opposite and seen the return. The result is a player who has gone from the margins at Leeds to the radar of Manchester United in less than a year.
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