Rangers want to sign English Defender as ‘difficult’ Leeds United situation emerges

Rangers want to sign Charlie Cresswell during the January transfer window despite Leeds United manager Daniel Farke denying him a loan move, according to Carlton Palmer. Speaking to Football League World on Thursday (4 January), the pundit named the Gers as one of as four clubs who are interested in signing the 21-year-old centre-back alongside English Championship sides Middlesbrough, Stoke City and Ipswich Town. Fluid logo But he said it’s a “very difficult” situation for the Whites boss to manage as he “can’t afford” to let the England U-21 international leave should his side pick up any injuries in the second half of the campaign. “Daniel Farke has repeatedly said Leeds won’t allow Charlie Cresswell to go out on loan,” said Palmer. “There is plenty of interest for Charlie. Boro, Stoke, Ipswich, Rangers to name a few.

It’s a very difficult situation for Daniel Farke. “They’re going into the second half of the season, they’re challenging for promotion, they want to get automatic promotion, and they can’t afford to let a player out of Cresswell’s ability should they pick up any injuries. Unfortunately for Cresswell, he needs game time and wants to be playing after his successful loan spell last season. “Middlesbrough, he would automatically go straight into their side given the injury criisis they’ve got in the central defensive areas. Ipswich are flying at the moment, going for promotion to the Premier League but it’s highly unlikely they’d let Cresswell go to a rival in their own league. “Who would fit the bill for him? I would assume right now Boro would be the best fit for him because given what [Michael] Carrick did last season, they could push on and end up in the playoffs again this season.” Fits the bill The interest from Rangers in Cresswell certainly isn’t anything new after the club were also linked with a move for him during the summer transfer window. After impressing out on loan in the English second tier with Millwall last season, the defender has only made four league appearances this season for Leeds, with his last outing coming as a late substitute in October against QPR. That means he’ll be chomping at the bit to go out and earn some more regular first-team football away from Elland Road despite Farke’s reluctance to let him leave this month. Gers chairman John Bennett has repeatedly stressed that he wants the club to start signing younger players who they could make a profit on down the line and the young Englishman fits the bill. He is highly thought of within the national team setup and perhaps there’s an opportunity for the Light Blues to capitalise on his desire for more minutes by making the Whites a permanent offer they can’t refuse.

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