Manchester United and Liverpool are reportedly set to go head-to-head in a bid to sign Leeds United star Charlie Cresswell.
The 19-year-old has made an impressive start to life in the Premier League after making his breakthrough into the first team this season, and his current club now face a battle to keep hold of him.
Cresswell only made his debut for Leeds last season in a Carabao Cup tie against Hull, which proved to be his sole appearance for the seniors in 2020/21.
He was brought back into the fold in the same competition back in September and Leeds' injury crisis has handed the youngster more opportunities to stake his claim.
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The centre-back has since played four times in the Premier League, though three of which were as a late substitute.
But his efforts have not gone unnoticed by United and Liverpool scouts, with The Sun reporting both clubs are now keen on snapping him up.
Leeds will be under no pressure to sell, given Cresswell is tied down to the club for the long term.
However, with the Yorkshire club slipping closer to the relegation zone with each passing week, that situation could well change come the end of the campaign.
Cresswell is out injured at present and is not set to return until at least the end of January, meaning it is unlikely any deal will happen mid-season.
The future of Marcelo Bielsa could play a factor in which players stay at Elland Road beyond the summer, after the Argentine made a worryingly honest admission over his role in the hotseat.
Bielsa has set alarm bells ringing after conceding he only penned a new one-year extension with Leeds as he felt he could improve them further - something he accepts he has failed to do.
It was difficult for Leeds to better their ninth-place finish, and their season has been severely hampered by injuries to star players Patrick Bamford and Kalvin Phillips, among others.
But Bielsa's latest comments will strike concern among the Leeds faithful, particularly with his contract due to expire in June.
“I focus on the performance of the team, and the weaknesses that we have shown were precisely the ones I had worked on to elevate us from last season," Bielsa said.
“So when I made the decision to work here for one more year, it was because I had the conviction that the team could be better.
“That depended on some decisions and developments. I wanted the developments to help the team to grow – but I haven’t achieved it.
“The situations we have had to go through, I wasn’t able to resolve them as I thought I would.”
Liverpool have also been heavily linked with a move for Leeds' skilful winger Raphinha, while United have kept close tabs on Phillips.
Should Leeds fail to beat the drop, it is likely they could face several big-name departures, with Bielsa possibly chief among them.
