Liverpool and Manchester United are ready to battle it out for the services of Leeds United whizkid Charlie Cresswell next summer.
According to The Sun, Liverpool and Manchester United are among the clubs monitoring the progress of Charlie Cresswell. The two Premier League giants have been alerted by the Leeds United defender’s recent breakthrough and are poised to make a move in the next summer transfer window.
A native of Preston, Cresswell is an avid Leeds United supporter and has been with the club’s academy since 2013, having joined at the age of just 11. The youngster has since enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence, notably earning a promotion to the senior side in the summer of 2020.
The centre-back made his competitive appearance in the Carabao Cup fixture against Hull City in September 2020. Almost a year later, he made his Premier League debut by starting against West Ham. Although Leeds ended up losing the game 2-1, the young defender made an impression with his defensive work ethic.
In total, Cresswell has made six competitive appearances for Leeds United. But his major breakthrough came in the Elite Development League, where the defender remains an indispensable figure in the Leeds U23 backline alongside Kris Moore and summer signing Leo Hjelde.
Cresswell’s impressive progress has put Manchester United on red alert, as new coach Ralf Rangnick looks to further enhance the club’s youth academy after replacing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the end of last year. Under his reign, the Red Devils have already been linked with a move for VfL Bochum prodigy Armel Bella-Kotchap, among several other talented German youngsters.
Charlie Cresswell, to that end, could be another exciting option. The 19-year-old has already featured in a few Premier League matches, and his status as a homegrown talent could be useful for the club in the Brexit era.
However, Manchester United are set to face stiff competition from Liverpool in the pursuit of the teenage defensive talent. Much like Rangnick, Jurgen Klopp is also open to adding more depth to his defensive unit, especially amid uncertainty surrounding the future of Nathaniel Phillips. The Englishman is likely to leave Anfield in January amid interest from Newcastle United and West Ham.
The addition of someone like Cresswell should help the club replace the 24-year-old centre-back in the long term. But it will be a challenge for both these Premier League giants to secure a move for the Leeds United youngster, who still has a contract at Elland Road until 2025. The Yorkshire giants will be wary of offloading one of their defensive assets to direct Premier League rivals, especially if they can stave off relegation this season.
