Whether or not Charlie Cresswell becomes a West Ham United player before the transfer deadline – Adama Traore is the fourth new face to arrive with more surely on the way – remains to be seen.
With another winger in the building – Adama Traore joins West Ham while following in the footsteps of Pablo Felipe, Taty Castellanos and Keiber Lamadrid – attention will now turn to central-defenders, goalkeepers and potentially the odd midfielder.
Centre-halves, in particular, are something the fans have been clamouring for. Understandably so, despite the improved form of Konstantinos Mavropanos and Jean-Clair Todibo.
Have your opinions of Mavropanos and Todibo CHANGED? 🧱 ❌
Do West Ham still need to sign a centre-back?
Hammers News readers voted in favour of Charlie Cresswell when we asked them to pick their dream West Ham United addition recently. The giant Toulouse centre-back picked up a staggering 92 per cent of the vote. Traore, if you were wondering, accumulated only three percent.
That alone tells you how much Nuno needs defensive reinforcements, while also indicating that Adama Traore has a point to prove at the London Stadium.
But where do things stand in terms of Charlie Cresswell’s future?
Wolfsburg back away as West Ham United hold out Charlie Cresswell hope
According to Sky Sports, an unnamed Premier League club have seen a £21 million bid knocked back by Toulouse? Was it West Ham? It could also have been Brighton, Crystal Palace, Tottenham, Newcastle or any of the other teams who have scouted the England Under-21 international in recent months.
The good news is that Wolfsburg’s interest appears to have hit the buffers. What’s more, Cresswell’s favourite shirt number has just become available in East London.
Sky add that Wolfsburg had seen a number of bids rejected, including one worth £23 million. Toulouse are holding out for £30 million. And, according to German publication Kicker, their refusal to budge has taken the 2009 Bundesliga champions out of contention.
Wolfsburg have reportedly now turned to Ko Itakura of Ajax, having also pursued Kristoffer Ajer of Brentford.
Speaking on the Official Leeds United Podcast back in 2023, meanwhile, the Preston-born Cresswell admitted that his favourite shirt number was the number five. One traditionally associated, of course, with the kind of powerhouse centre-half the 6ft 4ins giant has since blossomed into across the Channel in France.
“I love it [the number five],” Cresswell said, inheriting the shirt at Elland Road following the departure of now-Frankfurt captain Robin Koch. “I love the pressure and love being able to wear that number on the back of my shirt.
“It’s something that I’ve wanted since I was a young boy, and I’m just buzzing that I’m going to be playing in that this season.”
Cresswell could take Igor Julio’s shirt number if former Leeds starlet joins
As Igor Julio returns to Brighton and Hove Albion ahead of schedule – West Ham are one defender down heading into Saturday’s clash with London rivals Chelsea that number five jersey is now sitting on a peg in the London Stadium changing room ready to be claimed.
Pick your West Ham v Chelsea combined XI! ⚒️ v 🔵
Are you selecting Fernandes over Palmer? Areola over Sanchez? What about Bowen?
Igor Julio slipped behind teenager Ezra Mayers in the pecking order around the Christmas period. He leaves the Hammers having started only one Premier League match, alongside a trio of brief top-flight cameos.
This should only strengthen the desire for defensive reinforcements, though time is running out and Toulouse appear in no rush to sell.
West Ham have entered talks for Chelsea’s Axel Disasi, according to L’Equipe. Other names mentioned in the media include Ethan Pinnock, Jamaal Lascelles, Eric Dier, Jhon Lucimi, Roggerio Nyakossi and Tiago Gabriel.
Hammers News can confirm that Nuno wanted Alexandro from Lille, but he has only recently returned from a lengthy injury.
El Chadaille Bitshiabu will not be leaving RB Leipzig, with the former Paris Saint-Germain kid firmly out of contention.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
