Charlie Cresswell looks set to stay at Leeds United as no Championship rival has been willing to match the club’s £5million valuation.
The Thorp Arch product has not featured for Leeds in the league since the opening month of the campaign.
Cresswell has featured in a matchday squad only once since November, which Daniel Farke suggested was down to doubts over his focus.
With the 21-year-old fourth in the centre-back pecking order, a move away was widely expected in the January transfer window.
Blackburn Rovers and Millwall, where Cresswell impressed on loan last season, have both been linked.
However, writing for The Athletic [26 January], Hay reported that Leeds were never interested in the idea of loaning out Cresswell this month.
Only a permanent deal for a fee of £5m will suffice, and that figure is not looking as though it will be met ahead of next week’s transfer deadline.
It means Leeds are now in an awkward position – or a “mess”, as Dan Moylan put it – in that they have a player who is not getting a look-in remaining on their books until at least the summer.
Farke told reporters at Friday’s (26 January) press conference that “the door is always open” for Cresswell to return to the squad.
While that could be seen as an olive branch of sorts, it was pretty much all Farke could say in that situation.
This is not to say Cresswell will not completely turn things around, but it is difficult to see that happening at this point.
Assuming Millwall, Blackburn or any other interested clubs do not meet his asking price, Cresswell is facing a bleak second half of the season.
As the likes of Patrick Bamford and Ilia Gruev have showed this season – albeit to lesser extents – there is a way in if you continue working hard.
All Cresswell can do now is knuckle down and hope that his opportunity does arrive. If not, a summer exit is the best for everyone involved.
