One of the downsides to relegation – well, apart from the obvious – is that West Ham United now have to stand by and watch their more ambitious transfer targets snapped up by top-flight clubs.
At the heart of the January transfer window, Hammers News asked our Talking Point users to pick their dream winter arrival.
A staggering 92 per cent voted in favour of Charlie Cresswell; the towering England Under-21 centre-back for whom Toulouse rejected a bid from West Ham during the summer of 2025.
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Of course, Axel Disasi joined West Ham United instead and performed impeccably. But if the Hammers had brought Disasi to East London at the start of the season rather than in the middle of it – or if they had made an offer closer to Toulouse’s asking price ten months ago – maybe we’d be planning trips to Manchester and Liverpool rather than Middlesbrough and Lincoln.
West Ham United’s dream signing Charlie Cresswell is set for Rennes
According to French publication Foot Mercato, Cresswell is set to stay on the other side of the Channel.
Not with Toulouse – they confirmed ages ago that a summer sale was inevitable – but in Brittany. Rennes are reportedly on the verge of striking a £24 million deal for the Preston-born former Leeds youngster.
Not content with equalling their transfer record for Cresswell, Rennes have agreed a £22 million fee with Sunderland for versatile attacker Eliezer Mayenda.
Hereby lies a £46 million double-deal which not only showcases Rennes’ determination to challenge for the Champions League spots in 2026/27. It is also a cruel reminder as to what West Ham might have had.
West Ham were credited with an interest in Mayenda, too. Ironically, the former Spain youth ace was the match which sparked the Hammers’ implosion last term. Mayenda’s towering header on the opening weekend was the first of 65 Premier League goals the Londoners would concede en route to relegation.
A relegation which means West Ham are now shopping in a very different market to their top-flight counterparts, not to mention some of the more deep-pocketed clubs of French football.
You can certainly forget about a late hi-jacking of that Cresswell deal.
Take a look at West Ham’s ins and outs this summer – What deal stands out most to you?
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Dael Fry a solid option after leaving Middlesbrough this week
According to ExWhuEmployee, Dael Fry is West Ham’s leading centre-back target these days. The long-serving Middlesbrough colossus become a free-agent on Wednesday. Others linked include Stoke skipper Ben Wilmott, Cardiff youngster Dylan Lawlor, and another freebie in Adam Webster.
This is not intended to be a slight on Fry, or any of the clubs alternative targets.
You only need look at how the Middlesbrough fans reacted to his potential departure to a promotion rival. ‘Gutted’, summed it up. Fry is a man at his peak, aged 28. He is a veteran of over 250 Championship appearances, and possesses both the aerial power and the passing range Nuno Espirito Santo is looking for.
Not bad for a free transfer.
Cresswell, though, is a rapidly-improving 23-year-old who appears to have an extremely bright future both at European level and in the England national team.
Unfortunately, even with £85 million on the way to West Ham following Mateus Fernandes’ move to Tottenham, eight-figure price-tags starting with the number two are a thing of the past for the time being.
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