West Ham Make Contact Over Late Deal to Sign England ‘Leader’

West Ham United are reportedly showing late interest in young English defender Charlie Cresswell amid Graham Potter’s side’s disastrous start to the season.

Alan Nixon reports on his Patreon that Cresswell has emerged as a target for the Hammers and that they are making “firm inquiries” for the England U21 international. He is currently playing his football in France with Toulouse, whom he joined from Leeds United last summer.

The 23-year-old left Elland Road due to a lack of first-team opportunities but could be keen to return to English football with a move to the London Stadium. He is a physically dominant six-foot-one centre-back who is aggressive in duels and could be a crucial acquisition for Potter.

West Ham Eyeing Late Swoop For Cresswell

It’s said that Toulouse are demanding £13m plus bonuses to sell the 23-year-old just a year after he arrived in France. Henry Winter described him as a “leader” during this summer’s Under-21 European Championships, and he was handed desired consistent game time last season, featuring 31 times in Ligue 1, scoring three goals and helping his side keep 10 clean sheets.

Cresswell (no relation to former Hammers left-back Aaron Cresswell) isn’t the only young English centre-back on the club’s shortlist. They are also monitoring Southampton’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis, who has Premier League experience, albeit from being relegated with the Saints last season.

Harwood-Bellis is valued at over £20m, a fee that may be putting the East London outfit off and instead focusing on Cresswell. Portuguese giants FC Porto have already had a bid rejected for the former.

Potter is under pressure following a poor run of results, which includes a 3-0 loss to newcomers Sunderland and a 5-1 home defeat to London rivals Chelsea. The Irons shipped 62 goals last season and have started this one by conceding eight.

West Ham have money to spend after selling Mohammed Kudus to Tottenham Hotspur for £55m. They had received an approach from Aston Villa for Lucas Paqueta but GIVEMESPORT sources understand that the Brazilian playmaker is now set to stay at the London Stadium.

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