"Got what it meant to play for Millwall" - Charlie Cresswell regret after Leeds United lofty demands | OneFootball

Charlie Cresswell was key for the Lions on loan, and came close to a permanent move to The Den

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

FLW's Millwall fan pundit has picked out centre-back Charlie Cresswell as a player that he wishes the Lions signed on a permanent deal after his loan spell at the club during the 2022/23 campaign.

Cresswell began his career at Leeds United, but struggled for game-time at Elland Road with the club in the Premier League, and so went out on the first loan of his career at 19-years-old to join Millwall ahead of the 2022/23 season.

The centre-back was a standout in his temporary spell at The Den, and was a key part of a Gary Rowett side that finished in eighth position at the end of the campaign, just one point off the play-off places.

Cresswell returned to Leeds after his Millwall loan, but struggled for minutes again last season under Daniel Farke and was duly linked with a permanent move back to the Lions in the summer, but instead made a £3.8m switch abroad to Ligue 1 side Toulouse.

Regret issued over Millwall being "priced out" of move for Charlie Cresswell

Not much may have been expected of Cresswell upon his arrival at Millwall, given his age and that he had made just seven first-team appearances for Leeds prior to the move, but he quickly became a fan-favourite at The Den with a brace on his debut for the club on the opening day of the season against Stoke City.

The Preston-born centre-back suffered a few small injuries throughout the season, but was a near guaranteed starter under Rowett when he was fit, and finished his loan spell with 30 appearances and five goals for the club in league and cup.

As a result of his impressive time at The Den, FLW's Lions fan pundit, Chris Chapman, of the Chat With Chaps YouTube channel, identified Cresswell when we asked him for a player he wishes had joined the club permanently, after they were once linked but didn't end up signing.

"I’m going to say Charlie Cresswell, who we had on loan from Leeds," Chris told FLW.

"(He) is a proper Millwall-type player, and has so much potential to improve.

"He ended up going to France in a permanent deal, which surprised a lot of people, and (it was) for quite a lot of money.

"I think that’s probably why we didn’t end up signing him, because we were priced out of that move.

"I would love us, in the future, to go back for him. Whilst Jake Cooper and Japhet Tanganga have been outstanding this season, healthy competition is always good.

"Beyond those two, there isn’t much depth that would sustain those high quality levels in the centre of defence, so having another option would be really, really good.

"Also, it would just future-proof us, if Japhet was to move on, or Jake was to get injured, as he is creeping up to 30 now. Cresswell would also give us the option to play three at the back.

"He is certainly someone, Charlie Cresswell, who I really feel that he got what it meant to play for Millwall. He was a fan favourite, and from what I know, he loved his time here."

Millwall wanted Cresswell to return permanently

Cresswell found game-time hard to come by at Elland Road last season, despite his successful time at Millwall that many thought had thrust him into boss Daniel Farke's plans for 2023/24.

The 22-year-old even signed a new four-year deal with the Whites last summer, but made just five appearances all campaign and reportedly fell out with Farke midway through the season, as the German felt he was not 'sufficiently committed to the collective cause.'

It was undoubtedly a frustrating year for him, and his lack of game-time meant that an exit in the January window looked likely, as Millwall reportedly made a 'couple of big offers' for his services, but were unable to agree terms with Leeds, according to the South London News.

Cresswell went on to make just one substitute appearance in the second-half of the season, and so a permanent departure from Elland Road looked set in stone, with the Lions again linked with a move throughout the summer.

The England youth international may well have been happy to make a return to South London, but he instead took the chance to leave these shores and move to Ligue 1 outfit Toulouse for a fee of £3.8m, which was likely a considerable amount more than what the Lions would have been willing to pay regardless.