Leeds United

2 things Leeds United need to weigh up after centre-back saga late in January transfer window

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Leeds United‘s Charlie Cresswell has been the subject of interest to many club’s during January.

He ended up remaining on loan with Millwall until the end of the season. However, Coventry City and Stoke City were the latest EFL sides credited with an interest in the centre-back late on in the window, per Phil Hay of The Athletic.

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What position did Leeds finish in their first season in the Championship in 2004/05?

Here, we take a look at TWO things Leeds need to weigh up as speculation around Cresswell’s long-term future at Elland Road continues to grow.

Diogo Monteiro

Diogo Monteiro signed from Servette late on in the window, initially joining to play with the Under-21 side. He is a right-sided centre-back and may well have taken Cresswell’s place in the squad as Leeds’ project centre-back.

His development between now and the summer could have some baring on what happens next with Cresswell. He may find his pathway to senior football even more difficult to see if Monteiro is as good as the Whites are hoping.

Monteiro is an athletic and composed ball-playing defender, which is quite the opposite to Cresswell who is an imposing and aerially dominant defender with some on the ball quality but less mobility to the Portuguese youth international.

Permanent or loan?

There has been speculation surrounding Cresswell’s future in the form of both loan and permanent offers. Leeds must decide what is best for him.

He turns 21 in the summer and will have two years remaining on his deal. Leeds’ decision will either be to sell him whilst he retains some decent value and put all of their eggs in the basket of Monteiro, or to extend Cresswell’s deal and loan him to the Championship again.

The 20-year-old has had a mixed season with Millwall but perhaps a different Championship club and environment could get more out of him. This would allow Leeds to reassess his situation as well as the club’s own situation at right centre-back in the summer of 2024.

Should Leeds sell Cresswell?

Yes

Yes

No

No

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