Millwall FC support may never forgive ex-Lions loan ace amid West Ham transfer talk | OneFootball

Charlie Cresswell proved an inspired loan signing for the Lions back in 2022/23

In recent seasons, Millwall have been known for pulling off several coups in the transfer market, despite the handful of managerial changes which have taken place at The Den during said timeframe.

At present, Alex Neil is the man tasked with achieving a play-off berth at Championship level for the first time in what will be 24 years by the end of the season, with there being numerous instances of the Lions being a 'nearly' side in the second-tier when it comes to breaking into the top-six, ever since their play-off success in League One eight years ago.

However, what can be commended is just how sustainable the South London side have made themselves on top of continuously breaking their own ceiling when it comes to the fees parted with for new recruits.

On top of this, SE16 has become a hotbed for young talent and those looking to forge their way back towards the Premier League, which has been recently evidenced through the £12m sale of Romain Esse to Crystal Palace in January, whilst Japhet Tanganga could have returned to the top-flight before joining Championship strugglers, Sheffield United for £7m in August.

Another player who can thank the Lions for aiding their recent upward trajectory is centre-back Charlie Cresswell, currently plying his trade for Ligue 1 side, Toulouse, after moving to France from Leeds United in July 2024 for £3.8m.

Yet, whilst 'Les Violets' could be about to make a substantial profit on the England Under-21 international, the defender's potential destination could leave a bitter taste in the mouths of Millwall supporters.

Charlie Cresswell enjoyed a successful loan with Millwall FC from Leeds United

During Gary Rowett's tenure in South London, Millwall developed a reputation for being defensively sturdy, as well as shrewd operators in the transfer market, conducting business on a particularly tight budget.

The aforementioned attributes proved a match made in heaven when Cresswell, who had made just six senior appearances previously for Leeds, swapped West Yorkshire for the capital in order to enhance his developments.

Joining the towering presence of Jake Cooper, it became apparent how pivotal the loan agreement with one of the club's fierce rivals was to a play-off bid in Rowett's final full season.

Cresswell proved a threat at the top end of the pitch, scoring four times and providing two assists, as well as being a key influence behind what was the fourth-best defence in the division behind promotion-winning Burnley and Sheffield United, as well as play-off finalists Coventry City.

Indeed, during his season-long stint with the club, the Preston-born man boasted some extremely impressive numbers such as a 69% tackle-winning success, winning 60.6% of his aerial duels and a 70.6% pass completion ratio in just 28 appearances - 25 of which came from the starting lineup.

Despite such an impressive stint, as Millwall missed out on the play-offs by a single point, it wasn't enough for Cresswell to oust the likes of Liam Cooper, Pascal Struijk and Joe Rodon at Elland Road in Daniel Farke's first season, which led to his eventual move to Toulouse.

It has been claimed that a key factor behind Cresswell's move to France last summer was that his performances for Millwall caught the eye of Toulouse president, Damien Comolli.

Unsurprisingly, the defender hasn't looked back in Ligue 1, winning 98 percent of his aerial battles last term as Toulouse finished 10th, conceding just 43 goals in 34 games, before Cresswell was also an impressive figure as the England Under-21s retained their UEFA European Championship title under Lee Carsley.

As such, Millwall's bitter rivals, West Ham United, were one of several clubs linked with a move for the defender, and such links have reportedly rekindled according to the likes of talkSPORT and Football Insider in recent days, with Nuno Espírito Santo looking to guide the Hammers to safety following his appointment in September after Graham Potter's dismissal.

The East London side have conceded 23 goals in their opening 11 games, with only rock-bottom Wolves holding a worse defensive record, so it is no real surprise to learn that the Portuguese is targeting defensive reinforcements.

So far this term, the 6"3 figure has already equalled his goal tally from last season - three - and continues to be a star performer for Carles Martinez Novell.

It has also been claimed that Cresswell's best chance of making Thomas Tuchel's senior Three Lions side is by returning to the Premier League, some four years after his final top-flight appearance with Leeds.

Hardly anyone could begrudge the highly-rated defender in pursuing such ambitions, particularly with the FIFA World Cup on the horizon.