LEICESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 23: Abdul Fatawu of Leicester City celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Leicester City and Southampton FC at The King Power Stadium on April 23, 2024 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Championship rivals Leeds United handed £3.8m boost after sale of former Sunderland transfer target
Former Sunderland target Charlie Cresswell has finally departed Championship rivals Leeds United.
The England youth international centre-back has been linked with Sunderland multiple times during recent windows following an impressive spell on loan at Millwall during the 2022-23 campaign. However, after returning to Leeds, the defender struggled to break into Daniel Farke’s side.
The Whites made it all the way to the play-off finals last season before losing to Southampton at Wembley. Cresswell made just five Championship appearances during the season and seven in all competitions.
The 21-year-old England under-21 international came through the Whites’ academy but only made 14 appearances for the senior side during his spell at the club. Cresswell has now joined Ligue 1 side Toulouse.
The French side have signed Cresswell for an undisclosed fee. Though the transfer was not revealed, it is believed to be around £3.8million. According to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Cresswell’s sale represents ”pure profit” as the 21-year-old is a product of the club’s Thorp Arch academy.
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Championship transfers: Newcastle and Everton eye £25m deal as Leeds United looks to ‘balance the books’
Sunderland Championship rivals Leeds United are braced for big-money bids for one of their top talents.
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Sunderland could forget about Rusyn by signing EFL goal machine
Sunderland supporters would have felt somewhat flat after watching their side’s latest pre-season outing, as the Black Cats succumbed to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of non-league neighbours Gateshead.
Jack Clarke scored in the run-out, but it was a disappointing day at the office for the Wearside outfit all the same, with Regis Le Bris keeping a closer eye now on what players he wants to keep and who he could potentially offload after viewing that loss.
Nazariy Rusyn, who has been linked with a switch away from Sunderland after just one lacklustre campaign, could find he’s out of the team when the new Championship season gets underway, especially if the Black Cats decide this move is necessary.
Sunderland could go back in for EFL ace
It had been widely reported previously that Sunderland, alongside a whole host of other EFL clubs, were eyeing up a move for Burnley attacker Scott Twine this transfer window.
However, all that talk has gone quiet now, with football journalist Alan Nixon stating via his social media recently, that no team interested in the 25-year-old ace had fielded a bid that has satisfied the Clarets.
The in-demand Burnley man could be the answer to Sunderland’s prayers going forward, after going through the entire 23/24 season desperately wanting a talisman to lead the line, if they cough up an acceptable sum that Scott Parker and Co would deem as being enough.
What Scott Twine could offer Sunderland
Bagging plenty of goals out on loan away from Turf Moor last season in the second tier, Le Bris signing Twine could bring to a close Rusyn’s brief time in England already, as the Frenchman attempts to leave his mark on a Sunderland team that really needs reinvigorating.
