I couldn't be happier after leaving Leeds United - I'm now a 'top transfer target' for their relegation rivals
The defender left Leeds United back in 2024 but could join one of their key Premier League rivals next month.
Leeds United could be fighting to survive against one of their own academy graduates amid reports of West Ham interest in Charlie Cresswell.
Cresswell left Leeds in the summer of 2024 after a decade rising through the ranks at his boyhood club, having found regular football hard to come by under Daniel Farke. The 23-year-old joined FC Toulouse in France for around £3.8million and enjoyed an excellent first year, telling The Athletic back in May he ‘couldn’t be happier’ with his decision.
This season Cresswell has gone one better, playing every available minute of Toulouse’s Ligue 1 campaign, with 16 starts and an impressive three goals to his name. The England Under-21 international has emerged as one of the French top-flight’s best centre-backs and has been regularly linked with moves to Italy and back to England.
The Athletic now report that Cresswell could end up doing battle with Leeds amid interest from a relegation rival. West Ham tried and failed to sign the defender on deadline day in the summer and according to the report, remain in regular contact with the representatives of a ‘top transfer target’.
West Ham are expected to spend heavily in the January window amid growing relegation fears, with Nuno Espirito Santo’s side five points from safety having failed to win in seven games. The Hammers are a further two points short of Leeds in 16th, who have gone unbeaten in five but remain very much in the fight to survive.
Defence remains a problem area for West Ham, who have conceded 36 goals in 18 games with only Wolves letting more through. Espirito Santo’s side have lacked physicality and aerial presence at centre-back, with Cresswell seen to improve both areas significantly.
Do Leeds United have a sell-on clause for Charlie Cresswell?
The Englishman won’t come cheap, however, with the Athletic also reporting that Toulouse want €25m (£21.8m) for the in-demand Cresswell. That would bank the French side a huge profit, while the Hammers won’t be able to spend freely due to previous outlays and PSR limits.
Should West Ham decide to meet that price-tag, they might also inadvertently help Leeds’ chances of doing business in January. Whites managing director Robbie Evans admitted in September the club are right at the limit of their three-year permitted losses but a move for Cresswell could inject some cash into Elland Road.
Amid interest from Italy in the summer, The YEP reported that Leeds inserted a sell-on clause into the deal which entitles them to 15 per cent of any future profits. Should Cresswell therefore move for £21.8m, that would see Toulouse generate £18m profit, £2.7m of which would be heading to West Yorkshire.
That amount could go a long way for Leeds, potentially allowing them to pay the first portion of a permanent transfer fee through amortisation, the practice of spreading an overall fee across the length of a contract. It could also boost their wage budget and improve their chances of securing a top-level loan target.