Hammers hold Cresswell contract hope as City approach

West Ham United are keen to tie down their in-form full back Aaron Cresswell on a new long-term deal at Upton Park, in a bid to thwart growing interest from Premier League champions Manchester City.

Manuel Pellegrini’s title-hopefuls, 6/1 with Coral to retain their crown this year, have reportedly stepped up interest in Hammers left back Cresswell, after the 25-year-old’s impressive displays for the East London outfit this season.

Despite the former Ipswich Town defender only joining Sam Allardyce’s side last summer on a five-and-a-half-year deal, the hopeful Hammers are desperate to improve his current deal to keep him at the club.

Cresswell would be the latest West Ham star to commit their future at Upton Park, with Mark Noble, James Tomkins and Winston Reid all recently penning new long-term contracts.

At the end of the current campaign, Cresswell will still have four years left on his present deal, having made a £4m switch from Ipswich last July, going on to start 32 of his side’s 33 games this season.

City’s interest in the full back comes as they aim to secure some English talent to meet the homegrown criteria in the top-flight, with Cresswell’s fellow countrymen Frank Lampard and James Milner set to depart this year.

Cresswell’s impressive rise to prominence is a huge success story, having been rejected by Liverpool as a 15-year-old, before joining their inferior Merseyside counterparts Tranmere Rovers, a familiar path chosen by those who are shunned by the biggest two clubs in the area.

However, after a move to Portman Road, the classy defender excelled, and last season was an astute attacking outlet for the Tractor Boys, providing 14 assists in all competitions during a sublime Championship campaign.

A big-money move to City is undoubtedly a tempting offer for the young defender, but if previous adventures to the Etihad from English starlets are anything to go by, Cresswell should seriously consider his options.