Leeds United set for £2.6m transfer boost with 'deal close'
The Leeds United transfer coffers could receive a welcome boost if the deal is complete.
Leeds United could be in line for a seven-figure cash boost if the transfer of a former player goes through.
Charlie Cresswell left Leeds for FC Toulouse in July 2024, having found regular football hard to come by under Daniel Farke. A £3.8million deal was agreed and the centre-back signed a four-year contract in France.
Cresswell has become a fixture in the Toulouse starting-XI since, featuring 60 times in Ligue 1 across two seasons and scoring an impressive six goals. The 23-year-old has attracted plenty of transfer interest during that period, from the Premier League and Italy mainly.
A move now looks closer than ever for Cresswell with reports from France suggesting he is set to join Toulouse’s Ligue 1 rivals Stade Rennais. Footmercato claim a deal worth €25million (£21.4m) plus €3m (£2.6m) add-ons is on the verge of being agreed, in what has been described as a big summer coup.
Rennes are believed to have offered Cresswell a ‘lucrative’ salary as they look to strengthen their defensive ranks. The Breton outfit finished sixth in Ligue 1 last season, securing themselves a Europa League place which could offer the former Leeds man continental football if the deal goes through.
Leeds United Charlie Cresswell sell-on clause details
Leeds will have an eye on the potential deal and could be financially rewarded themselves. As the YEP reported last summer amid interest from Italy, Elland Road chiefs inserted a sell-on clause into their £3.8m deal which entitles them to 15 per cent of any future profits.
Should Rennes pay an initial £21.4m for Cresswell, Toulouse would bank a profit of £17.6m on their £3.8m spend back in 2023. And with 15 per cent of that due to be sent to Elland Road, Leeds could be in line to receive around £2.64m.
That would take their total income for Cresswell up to £6.45m and bring in a decent extra fee ahead of what is likely to be an expensive summer. Although there is still work to be done before the former Thorp Arch academy prospect becomes a Rennes player.
Leeds inserted a similar kind of insurance into their recent sale of Cresswell’s fellow defender, Pascal Struijk, last month. The Dutchman joined Brighton in a deal the YEP understands is worth £20m in total, with Elland Road chiefs inserting a sell-on clause into the deal - the exact value of which is unknown.