Director of Football Marcel Brands will have the chance to land a long-time Everton target this summer, as Football Insider understand West Ham are open to selling Aaron Cresswell.
The 29-year-old had been linked with a £25million move to Merseyside a year ago, when former boss Sam Allardyce contemplated who could come in and challenge Leighton Baines for honours at left-back.
Brands and Marco Silva did not venture down the same path of the one-game England boss upon their arrival, though, and we ended up signing our would-be Player of the Season Lucas Digne.
The duo may look to sign the £50,000-a-week Allardyce target this year, however, as we have again been linked with the Hammers defender.
Although rather than arriving as someone who can rival Baines, it is thought Cresswell would now be the man to replace the English star, as the veteran ace is out-of-contract next month.
There had also been suggestions in the French media that Paris Saint-Germain full-back Layvin Kurzawa was also under consideration.
Brands, however, is thought to be keeping tabs on Cresswell’s situation in East London as he is a more realistic target this summer given his experience.
He would also be a lot cheaper than Kurzawa, and his asking price from a year ago, as Football Insider have now claimed West Ham will only demand a nominal fee of £8million for their long-time club servant, whom they signed from Ipswich Town in 2014 for £4million.
Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini is said to be okay with Cresswell moving on in the transfer window, as the 3-cap England international was unable to hold down the left-back spot at the London Stadium while rivalling Arthur Masuaku, who had also been tipped to be on the Chilean’s chopping block.
It has to be noted, however, that while Football Insider understand Cresswell is up for sale, Football.London believe that he nor Masuaku will be leaving Stratford this summer.