West Ham United eye French league based replacement for Aaron Cresswell – ExWHUemployee
West Ham are looking at the French league for potential replacements for exit-bound Aaron Cresswell, according to ExWHUemployee.
According to The Athletic the Hammers are in talks with Wolves over a potential £5m transfer for the veteran left-back, and writing on his Patreon (19 July) Ex has confirmed that they are willing to offer him a longer contract than West Ham.
All eyes now turn to potential replacements at left-back, and it’s being reported that as well as Ian Maatsen of Chelsea the club are looking at the French league at a number of players.
“We can confirm that there has been interest in left-back Aaron Cresswell,” he wrote.
“Clubs are prepared to offer him a longer-term deal than his current one-year deal at West Ham and Wolves are said to be leading the way.
West Ham are said to have identified a number of left-back replacements including Ian Maatsen from Chelsea, who was on loan at Burnley last season and a couple of French league-based players.”
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Maatsen would be a terrific signing to replace Cresswell, as he proved to everyone while on loan at Burnley last season that he is more than ready for the Premier League.
But with Chelsea reportedly wanting at least £20m to let him leave, the French league could provide cheaper alternatives.
Ligue 1 has been a favourite for Moyes to target players from as they tend to represent better value for money but also have the right attributes to fit into the Premier League well.
Emerson’s performances with Lyon while on loan were enough to convince Moyes he was a good enough option at left-back, while the likes of Lucas Paqueta, Maxwel Cornet, Thilo Kehrer and Nayef Aguerd have all come from France in the past too.
No names were given but it is certainly one to keep an eye on as West Ham will need to replace Cresswell should the move to Wolves go through.
In other West Ham news, the club are in talks to sell another player to a Premier League rival.