Everton Opinion: Why the Toffees should make a move for Aaron Cresswell?
According to a report from the Daily Post, Everton are interested in signing West Ham left-back Aaron Cresswell.
The Englishman, 29, has been on the books of West Ham since the summer of 2014 when he joined from Ipswich Town. He has had a mixed time with the Hammers, to say the least. The left-back managed only 20 Premier League outings for the Hammers last season, bagging only an assist.
Aaron Cresswell has struggled with fitness and form over the last few seasons but he was back to his best for West Ham under Manuel Pellegrini. Yet, he wasn’t a regular at the club last term and could be available for around £8m, adds the report.
That being said, Everton must not think twice before splashing £8m to sign Cresswell from West Ham.
The Toffees had a decent first season under Marco Silva, finishing eighth in the table. They had some eye-catching results against the ‘Big Six’ in the second half of the campaign, which apparently saved Silva from the sack. The Portuguese tactician struggled initially to employ his tactics but once he did, Goodison Park virtually became a fortress.
The Everton manager will want to improve his squad in the summer transfer window to achieve his next season’s targets. One of them certainly has to be breaking into the top six, as the Merseysiders do have the quality in the squad. A couple of additions here and there would be enough for Silva’s Royal Blues to firmly challenge the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’.
One of the areas that needs to be strengthened over the summer is the defence, which looked shaky and vulnerable at times. Adding a central defender to partner Michael Keane would be a step in the right direction, but the Toffees will also need to sign a new left-back.
Lucas Digne was excellent in his debut season at the Goodison Park and earned the club’s Player of the Season award. The Frenchman’s deputy, Leighton Baines, is out of contract at Everton this month and has been offered a 12-month extension, but he has yet to accept it. If Baines departs this summer, Silva would do a wise job by replacing him with Cresswell.
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Cresswell showed signs of being back towards his old self this past season. There was consistency and confidence in his game, which had made him one of the best left-backs during the 2015-16 Premier League season. The former England international ticks the boxes for Everton and could be the perfect player to compete with Digne for a place in the team.
Verdict
The left-back position is a pressing concern this summer, so it’s a no-brainer for Everton to sign the experienced Cresswell.