Daniel Farke has made a few bold decisions as Leeds United manager since taking charge of the club in 2023, and one of those calls could come back to haunt him.
The Leeds manager has been keen to promote youth at Leeds. However, the club have never been in a position where they could actively play academy graduates to help them develop.
Leeds were fighting to get promoted from the Championship in his first two seasons as Leeds boss, and are now pushing to secure safety in the Premier League this season.
He has had to depend on experienced players, which means a few talented young stars were forced to leave the club, and one of them could join Manchester United this summer.
Manchester United have their eyes on Charlie Cresswell
Cresswell’s development at Toulouse since leaving Leeds in 2024 has been a source of regret for many at Elland Road, as he has genuinely emerged as a talented defender.
He made just 14 senior appearances for Leeds, and Farke trusted Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk over giving the young defender more opportunities.
It led to his permanent departure in 2024, and he could return to England to play Premier League football in the summer.
According to journalist Ben Jacobs, the centre-back is on Manchester United’s shortlist of targets ahead of the upcoming transfer window.
He said on United Stand, “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.
“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.”
A Leeds academy graduate in Manchester United colours will hurt fans
Several Leeds fans believe that Cresswell was treated poorly by Farke and should have received more opportunities in the first team in his last season.
However, the defender had to move in 2024 for his own development, and he has proven in France that he deserved more chances to play at Leeds.
| Competition | Matches | Goals | Assists | Minutes Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ligue 1 | 24 | 3 | 2 | 2,160 |
| Coupe de France | 2 | 1 | 1 | 155 |
| Total | 26 | 4 | 3 | 2,315 |
A return to Elland Road seems out of the question, but watching one of their own move to Manchester United will surely hurt Leeds fans.
Manchester United are set to be in the Champions League next season, and it is only a matter of time before Cresswell joins one of the big boys of English football.
It remains to be seen whether the young defender is prepared to join the hated rivals of his former club in the upcoming transfer window.
