Leeds United employee shares Charlie Cresswell transfer prediction after deal agreed
Noel Whelan has backed Charlie Cresswell to push for a Leeds United first-team place in the 2023-24 season if he is a success on loan at Millwall.
The former Whites striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the 19-year-old’s spell at The Den will provide him with “invaluable” experience.
Leeds United confirmed on Monday (4 July) that Cresswell has joined Championship side Millwall on a season-long loan for the 2022-23 campaign.
Football Insider exclusively reported details of the move last week (28 June) – revealing that manager Jesse Marsch doesn’t believe the youngster is ready to compete for a first-team spot at Premier League level – despite being an admirer of his talents.
Cresswell, who is capped twice at Under-21 level by England, has racked up seven first-team appearances for Leeds Unied to date.
Whelan claimed the defender could leapfrog the club’s existing “international-quality” stars with a strong season at Millwall.
“It’s a smart move from Leeds United,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.
“We’ve got an abundance of international-quality centre-halves at the minute – but he’s still a young talent progressing on his pathway.
“This is now the next step in that progression. It’s going to be so valuable for him to go and get first-team football under a good manager in Gary Rowett.
“Look, Cresswell could be pushing for a first-team place at Leeds United if he does well at Millwall. That experience at Championship level could be invaluable.
“They’ve moved quickly to get this done, and now he can figure out where he stands for next season.”
In other news, Leeds United tipped to pay ‘premium’ as two signings from Germany mooted.