Leeds United defender Charlie Cresswell is a late target for Stoke City as they seek to replace Leicester City-bound star Harry Souttar.
That’s according to The Athletic, who report that Stoke are plotting a last-gasp move to lure Cresswell away from Elland Road.
Stoke have just agreed to sell star defender Harry Souttar to Leicester City in a deal worth up to £20million.
That’s a major hole to fill in the heart of the Stoke back line and Alex Neil understandably wants a new signing.
The man Stoke want is Leeds talent Cresswell, with the Potters now exploring a late move.
Cresswell is currently on loan at Stoke’s Championship rivals Millwall, and that deal would be ripped up to allow him to join Stoke if a deal can be agreed.
Stoke may well throw some of that Souttar cash at Leeds to try and finalise a permanent deal, as it’s unlikely his Millwall loan will be ended for another loan.
Charlie Cresswell may see no pathway at Leeds United
Leeds United have been collecting some really high potential youngsters in recent times.
The problem is that, eventually, they will need senior minutes – and Leeds have found balancing that with their survival hopes difficult.
Just this month, Leeds duo Cody Drameh and Joe Gelhardt have gone out on loan for first-team action elsewhere.
Cresswell is only 20 but he has been enjoying regular action at Millwall, leading to boss Gary Rowett saying he has ‘fabulous potential’, and he has to question whether he will get that back at Leeds.
The Whites do need to think about life beyond Liam Cooper, and that may be where Cresswell comes in.
Yet with another young centre back snapped up in Diogo Monteiro, Cresswell could seize his chance to leave now.
Ultimately, if Cresswell shines at Stoke, he may well end up back in the Premier League with another club.
This will be a difficult call for Cresswell, but he will need to make it quickly with the deadline ticking ever closer.
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