Football
Exclusive: Championship Clubs Queue Up for West Ham Stalwart Aaron Cresswell
Experienced left-back Aaron Cresswell of West Ham is attracting interest from Championship clubs on a free transfer. The 35-year-old is unlikely to stay in the Premier League but has offers from Coventry City, Bristol City, QPR, and Millwall. Cresswell, capped three times by England, has been a key player for West Ham for 11 seasons and is looking for regular playing time in the twilight of his career.
West Ham United FC v Nottingham Forest FC - Premier League by Rob Newell - CameraSport | Getty Images
West Ham full-back Aaron Cresswell is wanted by a number of Championship clubs on a free transfer, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
The experienced defender would love to extend his stay in the Premier League, but at 35, he knows his chances of landing a new club in the top-flight are slim.
He has been linked with a move to Everton under former boss David Moyes, but a deal seems unlikely with the Scot looking at a lower age demographic of player as he looks to build the Toffees for the future.
And SportsBoom understands Coventry City, Bristol City, QPR, and Millwall have all been keeping tabs on the former England international and what he does next.
Cresswell played 20 games for the Hammers last season, with 18 of those in the Premier League.
But his deal is up at the end of the month and, now that the summer transfer has reopened, he is hoping to land a new deal for next season.
And the chance to play regular football in the twilight of his career respectively is high on his agenda.
ENGLAND EXPERIENCE
Cresswell, capped three times by his country, was watched by a number of scouts last season after they got wind that his 11-year stay with the Hammers was coming to and this summer.
In all, the talented left-back has enjoyed 11 seasons with West Ham and made 369 appearances for the club.
Winning the UEFA Europa Conference League crown under former boss David Moyes has been the biggest achievement of a distinguished career, one which has seen him enjoy 11 seasons in the Premier League after a high-profile move to Upton Park from Championship side Ipswich Town in July 2014.
Cresswell became a mainstay of the Hammers’ side under various managers and his vast experience is one of the reasons a string of Championship clubs are queuing up to try and secure his prized signature.
However, his substantial wages at West Ham are believed to be the only potential stumbling block even though he can be snapped up on a free transfer when his current deal ends on 30th June.
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.