West Ham, apparently, continue with their interest from the Summer having failed in a something of a classic David Sullivan lowball offer to bring in a Nayef Aguerd replacement in the last few days of the transfer window.
It doesn’t help the Hammers’ negotiating now stance to go back to the club in question, Toulouse, having made something of a derisory bid – swiftly rejected, we hear – for their England defender Charlie Cresswell in August.
West Ham went on and signed loanee Igor Julio instead – without parting with the cash they received for Aguerd.
But according talkSPORT, the Irons are still interested in landing Cresswell – for whom next summer’s World Cup finals are most likely coming too fast for any chance of his getting selected for the Tuchel squad.
West Ham winter target – Charlie Cresswell
Their article today details:
“West Ham have reignited their interest in Charlie Cresswell, who has been told he needs to complete a move to realise his England dream.”
According to talksport, if Cresswell harbours England ambitions, he needs to make a move, according to ‘European football expert’ Andy Brassell, quoted in the same report:
“For me, before Charlie Cresswell gets into the full England squad, he’s going to have to make a step up from Toulouse,” Brassell added. Toulouse aren’t going to qualify for Europe anytime soon unless they go and win the Coupe de France. So there’s a real limit to what he can do there.”
The rumoured failed ‘lowball’ offer by David Sullivan in August most probably makes any genuine attempt to land Cresswell doubly difficult now. With other sides chasing the England u21 trophy winner, it is hard to see how Toulouse would be excited at picking up the ‘phone from West Ham ever again.
A nice ‘mission impossible’ for Nuno’s super agent pal Jorge Mendez to get working on. Cresswell was available for ‘just’ the £16 million last summer: Hard to see the Irons picking up a Premier League-calibre defender for anything like that come January. Missed the boat, again.
The Andy Brassell comment about Toulouse surely applies in equal measure to West Ham.
“West Ham aren’t going to qualify for Europe anytime soon unless they go and win the FA Cup. So there’s a real limit to what he can do there.”
Missed the boat, Martin. You are probably right. However, we just might……….
COYI
How many times does this need to happen before Sullivan realises he is not the person to handle transfers?