Due to his lack of participation, the defender “definitely” wants to leave, and Hay thinks the team would allow him to do so for the proper offer. The sticking point is that most exit alternatives will see him boost a rival.
“You had the issue with Charlie Cresswell also, and Farke’s taken a hard line on that, and he does seem like a disciplinarian in these scenarios,” Hay remarked (7 minutes and 10 seconds in).
However, I find it difficult to imagine a scenario in which Cresswell stays behind. It seems as though you have seen this dance before.
Given the situation, it seems clear that Cresswell wants to leave, and Leeds would allow him to do so if the appropriate offer—that is, a suitable offer—was made.
“The difficulty is that the huge amount of interest in him comes from the championship, and you have to be strategic when it comes to letting players go elsewhere and thinking about what they might do that might compromise your own season.
“It is apparent that Leeds would object to him joining a different team that is involved with them.”
Disassembled
It was expected that this season would mark Cresswell’s return to Elland Road as a first-team regular following his Championship loan with Millwall the previous year.
Rather, it seems to have resulted in a breach between him and his management, which could spell the end of his time at the team where many had him pegged as a future captain.
It is impossible to say from the outside and is likely to elicit a different response from both sides as to whether the manager had been leaving the center-back out for that reason all along or whether Farke had been routinely neglecting him for minutes that came first and caused his focus to waver.
However, the manager has demonstrated that he isn’t afraid to enforce the law, even in situations where it obviously limits his options. Earlier this month, Djed Spence was sent back to Tottenham due to an apparent disagreement behind closed doors, and he also saw no room for sentimentality with Luke Ayling prior to his departure to Middlesbrough.
Because of this, Leeds United have already lost two defenders this month. Robin Koch is one of them; he signed a pre-contract to stay with loan team Borussia Monchengladbach. It is therefore unexpected that a fourth defender may be on the way.
If Farke produces results and other players are obviously playing for him, then everything is fine and dandy. However, if he has too many young guys with high expectations who never live up to them, then maybe he is the issue.
The manager will be under even more pressure to prove himself right and complete the task of relegation back to the top flight if Cresswell leaves at this point, as it will eliminate Liam Cooper’s anticipated succession plan just as the captain appears to be nearing the end of his Leeds United career.
