West Ham find ‘shock’ Cresswell replacement as player stance emerges – report

Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney has been identified as a “shock” replacement for Aaron Cresswell with West Ham United willing to match any offers for his services, according to Football Transfers.

According to the report (7 August), Tierney would be a direct replacement for the London Stadium veteran as David Moyes looks to strengthen his side with Premier League experience.

Cresswell is attracting interest from a number of Premier League sides most notably Wolves and Nottingham Forest (Alan Nixon, 6 August), however, the Hammers have hit a stumbling block with Tierney not convinced on a move to East London.

There’s no prizes for guessing that Tierney could have been the perfect replacement for Cresswell with the West Ham United leader now expected to depart the club this summer.

With Moyes wanting plenty of Premier League experience to add to his side for next season, Tierney because of his own leadership qualities, current abilities and experience in the English top flight will have certainly been the perfect tonic for the Hammers manager.

The Scotland international is certainly bound to endure limited opportunities at the Emirates this season, with Mikel Arteta preferring Oleksandr Zinchenko at left-back, but also with the added defensive addition of Jurrien Timber who was preferred for Sunday’s Community Shield triumph over Manchester City.

Tierney’s stance is a huge surprise as a result and a move to the Hammers could well have been the ideal platform and opportunity to regain his confidence and get the regular game time his talents crave.

The former Celtic man desperately needs a new lease of life elsewhere and it remains to be seen whether West Ham United can do enough to convince him to join, but if there is any small room that it can happen then Moyes will certainly jump at the opportunity.