TWTD understands that Town have won the race to sign Tranmere Rovers left-back Aaron Cresswell. The Blues, who have been chasing the 21-year-old since the end of the season, have beaten West Brom and Doncaster Rovers to land the highly-rated full-back.

Cresswell, who is 5ft 7in tall, is out of contract this summer but due to his age and having been offered a new deal at Prenton Park, the League One side are entitled to compensation.

Last week, their manager Les Parry said that his club had turned down a compensation offer from a Championship side, presumably Town. If the clubs are unable to come to an agreement, the matter will go to a tribunal.

Parry also said that he expected Cresswell, whose Rovers contract is officially up today, to be at the first day of pre-season training yesterday but, according to reports on the Wirral, he and other players in a similar position failed to show.

Cresswell made 71 starts and nine sub appearances for Rovers, scoring six goals, having come through the youth system at Prenton Park.

A set piece specialist and a tough-tackler, Cresswell likes to get forward and also played on the left of midfield when progressing through the ranks at Tranmere.

The youngster looks likely to sign on the dotted line at Portman Road in the next few days, providing left-back competition for Mark Kennedy.

The acquisition of another left-sided full-back could call into question Shane O’Connor’s future with TWTD understanding that the club received a couple of enquiries regarding the Irish youngster earlier in the summer. The 20-year-old, who is contracted for another year, turned down a loan move to Hereford last season.

Town, who have already added Michael Chopra, Nathan Ellington and Ívar Ingimarsson to their squad, start their pre-season programme at Playford Road tomorrow morning.

Photo: Action Images

PorkChopras added 14:10 - Jun 30 The new Ben Thatcher! Would be great addition!
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bogstandard added 14:26 - Jun 30 A young lad who wants to play for his shirt .... there was none of that last season. Jewell is starting to bring in hungry players ... now to secure the ugly & pretty midfield partnership & test the waters with a cheeky bid for Grant Holt .. can't wait for our season tickets to arrive ... not all doom & gloom is it ..
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joshberry94 added 14:29 - Jun 30 Think this lad would probably be signed as a midfielder, even more so after TRFCDave's comments. I personally can see Joe Whight coming in at left back after his sub appearances at the end of last season. PJ seems to really like him - hence the 2-year deal he has been given - and you cannot interest the likes of Newcastle and Arsenal without being of a certain quality. Good luck Aaron, all the best at ITFC, really hope the signings keep rolling in, next seson feels more and more exciting with these early deals!

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Ipswich24 added 14:45 - Jun 30 Was really hoping to sign this lad so phil please let this be true. This is sort of player that excites me as a fan, Young got that hunger to better himself and make a name for himself
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MarkITFC added 14:54 - Jun 30 Get in , Well in PJ and co ! great signing , young and just the player we needed !!!! Exciting signing !!
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oddball added 15:03 - Jun 30 Chalk and Cheese u are a fool, Ashley Cole 5ft 7ins.
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ITFC1812 added 15:11 - Jun 30 Excited about this one, even more so after reading TRFCdave's comments [cheers mate]. Tough-tackler sounds good as long a keeps his discipline (only 4 yellow and no red last season). Looks strong going forward as well, 4 goals 2010/2011, just the ticket!
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blueherts added 15:12 - Jun 30 Yep Joe Whight gonna be a starter next year - Carson , Lavery - some great youth in there with Murray up front we have a good blend so bring in some experience ..Matty Upson ...
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oddball added 15:17 - Jun 30 Can u believe all the idiots concerned about height, many, many full backs are short, do u people actually watch football or have u gone to the wrong site thinking we're a basket ball club.
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Infineteregress added 15:36 - Jun 30 Can't believe some people on here want us to make a bid for Holt!? First off, there's absolutely no chance he would want to forsake Premier League football to come to his club's arch rivals, or that Naarwich would even let him go. I don't care how many goals he scored last season, I'd personally never want to see him in a town shirt.
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johnhazelbum added 15:51 - Jun 30 Why would you choose Ipswich over West Brom?
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AndyUK61873 added 15:51 - Jun 30 Just saw that skysports are reporting out that Sunderland have signed another 20yo striker.....feel for Connor if he starts to get bumped down the pecking order up there.
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Legend added 15:53 - Jun 30 Loads of full backs are under 6 feet!! Ashley Cole is a short ass and one of the best full backs in the world at present. Roberto Carlos was short too.
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blueherts added 15:59 - Jun 30 Sito ....
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churchmans added 16:14 - Jun 30 set piece specialist and tough tackler!!!!! yeeeehaaaaaaaa get in there. a left sided player aswell JOHNHAZELBUM he chose ipswich because he probably thought he would get a regular start here and money pribably the same. we bigger than west brom and blackburn,bolton,norwich,wigan
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churchmans added 16:23 - Jun 30 MICK STOCKWELL nuff said move on
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dirtydingusmagee added 16:26 - Jun 30 good news
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pgc added 16:29 - Jun 30 exciting prospect.
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gypo added 16:49 - Jun 30 Look what happened to Leighton baines jewel got him from lower leagues and last year was best premier left back and playing for England and he's no giant
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jas0999 added 17:23 - Jun 30 Let's not celebrate until the deal is done BUT if we do pull it off, this would be an excellent signing. Shame he isn't a right-back though! Left-back seemed one of the positions we didnt need to improve. O'Conner has been very unlucky in my opinion. Still, Cresswell is a very good player. Still need replacements for Wickham, Norris, Bullard, a RB and a CB though.
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Sniegster added 17:31 - Jun 30 I think this is a brilliant signing if we actually have him!!!! Cannot believe all this stuff about Fullbacks needing to be tall!!! Since when??? I have always thought they had to be shorter and good tacklers and good with the ball to stop wingers and get up the pitch themselves. We have tried the 4 tall gangly blokes across the back a la Keano and it did not work. I was brought up watching Mills & Burley, then Yallop. All not 6 footers. There was also Kenny Sampson. People have already mentioned Ashley Cole. So I looked up the world top ten full backs. Seven of them are about 5'7" to 5'9", including Patrice Evra, Luis Fhilipe, Sanga, Daniel Alves, Philipp Lahm... I agree we need height in the team, but in the right places, not necessarily Full Backs.

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Upbeat~ added 17:55 - Jun 30 Great news, COYB
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arc added 18:12 - Jun 30 The key words to me are "set-peice specialist." If we have to go back to another season of Leadbitter hitting the first man now that JB has left, we're in trouble. And a few goals from direct freekicks would be welcome. I don't see the logic of O'Connor having to go. Since the end of last season we have lost O'Dea and Wickham from the left sided options, not to mention Quinn (for good reason...). I expect we'll buy out Civelli's contract at some point (although a miraculous return to form would be wonderful). That leaves aging and oft-injured Kennedy, untried (and unsigned) Whight, Creswell (if we get him) and O'Connor. I think we need all four. Now some central midfielders please.

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nkotb_sect5 added 18:40 - Jun 30 98 posts for this one. Has he actually signed or have I missed something? Pleas help me out her.
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Dissboyitfc added 18:47 - Jun 30 This sounds very good hope its true, a very good omen too, the last time we bought a defender off tranmere we got promoted. COYB
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