Town Win Race for Cresswell - Ipswich Town News
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 Ãvar Ingimarsson to their squad, start their pre-season programme at Playford Road tomorrow morning.
What to read next:
Leeds Thrashed at QPRThe battle for promotion at the top of the Championship took another dramatic turn this evening when Leeds United were thrashed 4-0 at QPR, a result which confirms Leicester City’s promotion to the Premier League and puts the Blues in the box seat for the second automatic spot.
Gilmartin to Continue Interim Irish RoleTown’s head of goalkeeping Rene Gilmartin will continue his role on Republic of Ireland interim head coach John O’Shea’s staff for the June internationals, the FAI has announced.
Season Tickets Sell OutTown have announced that season tickets for the 2024/25 season have sold out through existing renewals, meaning no new fans will become season ticket holders for the campaign ahead.
U18s Host BladesTown’s U18s are in Professional Development League Two South action at home to Sheffield United on Saturday morning (KO 11.30pm).
Rosenior: Our Cup FinalHull City boss Liam Rosenior insists the Tigers’ home game against Town, a match which he describes as his team’s cup final, kicking off at 8pm on Saturday is an advantage in the race for the final play-off places.
Moore: To Be in This Situation With Three Games to Go is UnbelievableKieffer Moore is excited about the next nine days that will see Town travel to Hull and Coventry in search of precious points before the season ends on Saturday week with Huddersfield the visitors on a day that could, depending on what happens between now and then, see the Blues hosting a second successive Portman Road promotion party.
McKenna: We Have Big Confidence in OurselvesTown boss Kieran McKenna says his team have “big confidence” in themselves going into Saturday evening’s visit to Hull City, the first of three games which will decide whether the Blues win automatic promotion back to the Premier League after 22 years away (KO 8pm).