According to a recent report from Dean Jones, West Ham United have hit a wall in their move for Toulouse defender Charlie Cresswell. So, they have started looking at other options. The Hammers have ma...
According to a recent report from Dean Jones, West Ham United have hit a wall in their move for Toulouse defender Charlie Cresswell. So, they have started looking at other options. The Hammers have made the 23-year-old centre-back their top priority to fix a leaky back line.
West Ham United Pivot to European Market as Charlie Cresswell Deal Stalls
However, tough talks to get the former Leeds United player out of his contract in France have put the move on ice. Cresswell moved to Ligue 1 in the summer of 2024 and remains tied to Toulouse until 2028. The French side do not seem ready to let him go without a fight.
The report reveals that Chelsea’s Axel Disasi is still a backup plan. Even so, the East London club have started looking much further. The scouting team are now focusing on leagues in France, Portugal, and Belgium.
They think these areas offer good deals that other Premier League teams often miss. By looking in these specific spots, West Ham hope to do business on their own terms. They also want to stay out of bidding wars that drive up prices.
The club’s board wants a new defender in the door before the Premier League season starts back up on January 17 against Tottenham.
Relegation Threat Forces Strategic Gamble
BRISTOL, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 15: Charlie Cresswell of England during the UEFA U21 Euro 2025 Qualifier Group Six match between England and Azerbaijan at Ashton Gate on October 15, 2024 in Bristol, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
The rush to sign a defender comes down to West Ham’s dangerous spot in the Premier League table. The team have picked up only 14 points from 21 games. They are stuck in the bottom three and sit seven points behind 17th-placed Nottingham Forest.
Being this far behind at this point in the year is a massive worry for both fans and the board. Missing out on Cresswell only adds to the stress. The squad needs someone reliable at the back right now to stop them from falling into the Championship.
Targeting players from the continent instead of proven Premier League names is a risky move during a relegation scrap. Players from the Portuguese or Belgian leagues usually cost less. However, they might need time to get used to the physical style of English football.
West Ham simply do not possess that kind of time. If the club cannot integrate a new defender before the critical fixture against Tottenham, they risk falling even further behind. The QPR game was a short break from league pressure. The real test is whether the recruitment team can find the right players to save the season before the window slams shut.
Category: General Sports
