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

Luggworm added 12:03 - Jun 30 ITFCsince67 - how tall are Mick Mills and George Burley? The 2 best full backs at the club since 67.
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Luggworm added 12:03 - Jun 30 ITFCsince67 - how tall are Mick Mills and George Burley? The 2 best full backs at the club since 67.
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Marshalls_Mullet added 12:05 - Jun 30 ITFC67 - Get a grip mate. Tranmere wanted to keep this guy but he rejected a contract as he has the potential to play at a higher level. Did you notice bayern munich paid £1.9m for his team mate?? Do they lack ambition? Gary Neville, Ashley Cole, Patrice Evra are not exactly giants. This is EXACTLY the type of signing I want to see. Young, driven and value for money. This is how to run a club. If you dont like it then stop watching / reading!!

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Infineteregress added 12:05 - Jun 30 Get in! Still time to poach St Ledger from the foxes with a cheeky 11th hour bid.
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Royalblue added 12:08 - Jun 30 My mate supports Tranmere and goes to most of their games - he said his set piece delivery is "unbelievable." This lad, if he defo signs, is going to be a cult hero you wait and see. Anyone who knocks this signing is mad!
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robdaful added 12:08 - Jun 30 Yay :D Some good news.
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osborne1nil added 12:09 - Jun 30 Ability to jump comes into it not just the defenders height. If you take Peters for example, he can jump very well and has out jumped many of the taller strikers that teams Town have played against. Hope he is in PJ's plans for this year, as he has hardly had a look in since he arrived. Another 4 or 5 players still needed along with a decent keeper.
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Gozzo_89 added 12:09 - Jun 30 chalkandcheese...Mick stockwell was a great wing back for us and he was only a small bloke, look at others like tarricco, also short but both were great defenders, not all about height.
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Marshalls_Mullet added 12:10 - Jun 30 ITFC 67 - Tarricco c.5 ft 8 ...... one of the best full back we have had in the modern era. And as for Micky Stockwell.
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icetruckiller added 12:10 - Jun 30 Great news. Let's get SSL in with a £1.3m bid.
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WeirdFishes added 12:10 - Jun 30 great signing :)
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bluefishx added 12:10 - Jun 30 He's an inch taller than Roberto Carlos!
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Marshalls_Mullet added 12:13 - Jun 30 Maybe ITFC67 would like us to try Delaney at left back again??!! Doh.....
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StowTractorBoy added 12:14 - Jun 30 If it comes off excellent signing just have to make sure we stop the crosses coming in which will alleviate any possible lack of height problems. At last someone who can bomb forward but also defend with vigour. ITFC1967 sorry to bring it up but that lot up the road got promotion with players mainly from the lower divisions. We need a good mix and PJ is going the right way about it.

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yun added 12:14 - Jun 30 @marhsallsmullet Ah...you invoke the legend of Micky Stockwell. What a hero! Let's hope this lad gives half as much to the club and we'll have something to look forward to.
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notoriousITFC added 12:17 - Jun 30 I really like the sound of this guy. Young, British and always good to have a set piece specialist in your team. Probably will get you 5 cheap goals a season.
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yun added 12:19 - Jun 30 Another note on the size vs leap argument. Anyone remember how high David Johnson could get off the ground? All 5ft 6 of him. Like a Jamaican salmon he was.
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Infineteregress added 12:20 - Jun 30 I hope we hold on to O'Connor though, another promising young left-back. Let Kennedy compete with Hyam for the midfield holding role. Now all we need is a RB, another CB, 1-2 midfielders and a decent striker to replace Wickham, and things will really be looking up!
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London_Blue added 12:21 - Jun 30 I hear Micky Stockwell installs a mean kitchen as well.... ;)
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algarvefan added 12:24 - Jun 30 Competition for Mark Kennedy, the blokes always crocked lol
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nardblue added 12:29 - Jun 30 If the speculation is true a welcome addition to the team. Maybe by signing a 21 year old this will stop the we only sign old has beens remarks!!! Agree we the comments posted regarding height as this really isn't an issue at full back & some of the best players to ever of played in that position have been short if not shorter....
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notoriousITFC added 12:30 - Jun 30 My pet dog could keep Mark Kennedy out of the left back position!
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itfcjc added 12:34 - Jun 30 Good I dont know a lot about him but he sounds good
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UsualSuspect added 12:40 - Jun 30 Get in!! Back of the net! Excellent news.
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hodgie1989 added 12:41 - Jun 30 I highly rate Shane O'Connor and think he should get a chance, he was really good when Keane was here, I think its the only good thing Keane did was to sign him. Kennedy won't last too much longer so we need a bit of youth with some pace who can track back
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