Leeds United have been thrown into the mix amid speculation regarding the future of Charlie Cresswell.
The 23-year-old was nurtured within the Leeds youth system and considered among the club’s brightest prospects as he climbed the ranks.
He enjoyed a rapid ascent through the age groups at Thorp Arch but found first-team opportunities limited.
After seeing little action under Daniel Farke, the powerful centre-back was sold to Ligue 1 outfit Toulouse for a reported £3.8m in 2024.
His value has now skyrocketed above that modest sum, with a raft of Premier League clubs having been credited with interest.
Charlie Cresswell is flourishing at Toulouse - and has been linked with former club Leeds United.placeholder image
Charlie Cresswell is flourishing at Toulouse - and has been linked with former club Leeds United. | Thibaud MORITZ / AFP via Getty Images & Richard Sellers/PA Wire
Leeds United thrown into the mix
In a surprise development, Leeds have now been named as a club with interest in their former player by TEAMtalk. The Whites are said to be ‘in the conversation’ having switched to a 3-5-2 formation, but not frontrunners.
Leeds’ bitter rivals Manchester United, meanwhile, are believed to be the club at the front of the chasing pack.
The report has suggested Cresswell is viewed as an affordable option who could be an ideal fit for the Red Devils.
However, the defender is also thought to be of interest to West Ham United, Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace. The trio were linked in January and their interest is believed to have been maintained.
Charlie Cresswell’s time at Leeds United
Cresswell does have an emotional connection to Leeds but a homecoming does appear somewhat unlikely.
It was under Farke that his progress stalled and the German is still in charge at Elland Road.
That being said, Leeds have favoured strong physical defenders of late, as evidenced by their swoops for Jaka Bijol and Sebastiaan Bornauw last summer.
Charlie Cresswell was unable to fulfil his potential at Leeds United.placeholder image
Charlie Cresswell was unable to fulfil his potential at Leeds United. | Jess Hornby/Getty Images
“But then you’ve got a situation where he’s clearly not fancied because other people were getting in front of him, getting minutes off the bench in front of him.
“So the writing was totally on the wall. And when we tested the club by saying we might have some interest and the club go ‘fine, this is how much we want’, it’s done. There’s no going back from that.”
If Cresswell does seal a move from Toulouse to a club other than Leeds this summer, the Whites will get a boost to their coffers having reported;y negotiated a sell-on clause.