Leeds United defender Charlie Cresswell may be heading for the permanent exit door at Elland Road, much to the despair of YouTuber Conor McGilligan.

The Lowdown: Cresswell’s season

Cresswell has had a rollercoaster of a season out on loan at Championship side Millwall with the 20-year-old finding himself on the fringes of the squad after bagging three goals and an assist from centre-back in his first six games.

The youngster hasn’t appeared since the 3-0 defeat to Sunderland at the start of December and has been forced out of the side by experienced head Shaun Hutchinson.

Subsequently, the Yorkshire Evening Post has claimed that Premier League Leeds are weighing up whether to recall the Englishman as they wait for potential permanent offers, which they claim is a “possibility”.

A huge player in a potential exit could be 17-year-old Portuguese centre-back Diogo Monteiro who Leeds are lining a bid up for, according to The Athletic.

The Latest: McGilligan’s concerns

Reacting to the news of Cresswell’s potentially imminent departure from Elland Road on a permanent basis, McGilligan revealed his disappointment on the One Leeds Fan Channel, saying:

“It’s a shame for Charlie, I would be upset that he went, I really would be I think he’s a decent player, he’s got a lot of potential, so watch this space definitely with Charlie Cresswell.

“I just think when you look at someone like Llorente and look at someone like Cresswell, is he yards behind someone like Llorente? Is he yards behind someone like Robin Koch?

“I’m just looking at ability and potential, has Charlie got a little bit more than that? You’d probably say yes.

“I think he’s got a really high ceiling.”

The Verdict: Strange decision

Although Cresswell has had a mixed bag at Millwall this season, a decision to ultimately chuck in the towel on the 20-year-old does seem incredibly strange.

Considering Leeds’ defensive record that stands as the fifth-worst in the top flight alongside the youngster’s ability to develop over time, and at the very least as a homegrown academy graduate in the squad, the Whites may have actually shot themselves in the foot over this deal, with 29-year-old Diego Llorente penning a deal until 2026 just last month, despite him only playing twice in the Premier League since September.

That deal may well have blocked Cresswell’s path into the first team with the Whites yet to sell a centre-back after the arrival of Max Wober for £11m (via Sky Sports), meaning that Cresswell could become the one to be cast aside.