Millwall next £4m transfer move could 'ignite flurry' of action at Leeds United

Millwall could prompt a 'flurry' of transfer action at Championship rivals Leeds United with their reported pursuit of centre-back Charlie Cresswell, who has been frozen out of the Whites' squad by Daniel Farke. The Whites boss believes the player is not 'mentally ready' to play for the club.

The 21-year-old, who spent the 2022/23 season on loan at The Den, has made just four league appearances this term and was nowhere to be seen in the Leeds United squad for their away win at Cardiff City last weekend.

Millwall have been tipped to bring Cresswell back to London but do face competition from Blackburn Rovers, according to journalist Alan Nixon. Both clubs are looking at permanent moves for the player with Leeds United believed to want around £4 million for the defender who has also been linked with Middlesbrough and Ipswich Town in the past.

Cresswell made 30 appearances for the Lions last season, chipping in with five goals from defence and earned the praise of former manager Gary Rowett for his commanding presence. The ex-Millwall manager said: “I think he’s been excellent. To keep Hutchinson out of the team when he’s back fit, he’s done it because he’s worked so hard.

“If they’re playing well, they deserve to stay in the team. That’s what keeping the shirt is all about. Cressy has done that.

“He’s got a knack of finding the right moment. We’ve seen that in a lot of our defenders – Hutchy did it the first season here and finished on six. I think Muzza (Murray Wallace) last year had about four or five. (Jake) Cooper’s been pretty consistent. Scotty (Malone), I think, had six. Cresswell is on five, and that’s another lovely little knack to have.

“You need those goals to break the deadlock in a game like that. Sometimes you can be playing badly, score a goal out of nothing and it changes the whole part of the game.”

With Cresswell clearly not in Farke's thinking, it seems unlikely that the Whites would fight too hard to keep the player on their books, with bids already received - but his departure could raise questions over the squad's depth ahead of the run-in. Leeds United have already seen Djed Spence's loan spell cut short and seen Luke Ayling leave for Middlesbrough after eight years in Yorkshire.

Leeds Live report that Cresswell's departure could 'ignite a flurry of essential business' for the promotion-chasers. Pascal Struijk and Liam Cooper have suffered injuries, with the latter's contract expiring this summer. Farke has fielded midfielder Ethan Ampadu and full-back Sam Byram at the heart of his defence ahead of Cresswell with satisfactory options stretched.