Leeds United have now sold four players for a fee already this summer and one of those to depart this month has shared why he chose to go, after a disagreement with Daniel Farke.
The 49ers made it clear ahead of the summer window that the club would have to sell players after losing at Wembley against Southampton. Archie Gray has gone to Tottenham for a whopping fee of £40million.
It has seen Joe Rodon move the other way for just £10million. Marc Roca has moved to Real Betis for a bargain £4m and is desperate for Diego Llorente to join him, with Llorente set to join Roca at Betis.
Kristoffer Klaesson joined Polish side Rakow on Sunday, before Leeds confirmed the £3.8m exit of Charlie Cresswell. He has moved to Ligue 1 side Toulouse, after a move looked to have fallen through last week.
Charlie Cresswell explains decision to leave Leeds for Toulouse
Toulouse were in last season’s Europa League and even beat Liverpool. A French side looking upwards rather than just trying to survive, finishing in 11th place last season alongside a European campaign.
The move sees Cresswell join a top-tier side and will wear the no.4 shirt, implying he will be a key player for Toulouse next term and beyond. It comes after struggling for game time under manager Daniel Farke.
Farke and Cresswell were at loggerheads last term. Cresswell’s Father and former Leeds striker Richard Cresswell bemoaned his son’s lack of game time, and now he has told Toulouse’s website he feels wanted.
“I felt wanted by the Club, who pushed hard internally to sign me. They made me understand I could be an important part of the project. A project that promises to be ambitious, that’s what I liked about it.”
What happened between Cresswell and Farke last season
The context is that Leeds had been relegated and Cresswell looked to benefit after a brilliant loan at Millwall. He returned to Leeds, signing a new deal and earning the no.5 shirt, but hardly played last term.
At the midway point, Farke said that Cresswell would not play unless he improved his attitude. His game time hardly improved after that and Farke reportedly made it clear this summer he could leave Leeds.
Now, Cresswell will be hoping to start in French football with Toulouse with Ligue 1 sides hoping to repeat the masterstoke performed by Lyon in their signing of Ireland star Jake O’Brien from Crystal Palace.
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