Town left-back Aaron Cresswell is undergoing a medical at West Ham United and is expected to complete a move to the Hammers later today or tomorrow.

Rumours that Cresswell had missed training at Playford Road and was having a medical with the Hammers surfaced early this afternoon.

Firm details of the agreed fee - which will almost certainly prove to be officially undisclosed - have yet to emerge, however, London sources are reporting that the deal is worth almost £4 million, a figure which may include some add-ons. It’s understood that the Blues have previously turned down other offers for the 24-year-old, with reports elsewhere claiming Fulham were amongst those to make a bid.

West Ham were amongst the clubs keeping tabs on Cresswell throughout the 2013/14 campaign and were linked with a possible move by their local press yesterday.

The Hammers are understood to have turned their attention to Cresswell, having had an offer for Norwich's Martin Olsson turned down.

Speaking on Monday, manager Mick McCarthy confirmed that he wouldn’t stand in the way of Cresswell if an offer came in from a Premier League side: “I said last season, and my stance hasn’t changed, Cressy got all the plaudits for being the best left-back in the league and if at some stage somebody comes in and the deal’s right, it becomes untenable because [in those circumstances] the player wants to go. It’s not that we want to sell him but I might be able to reinvest if that’s the case.

“I don’t want to sell him but he himself is really ambitious and if the right deal comes along, who knows, it may have to happen.

“And if it does, I’ll shake his hand, thank him for all that he’s done and I’ll crack on and get somebody else. That’s the way it happens.”

McCarthy has previously said that he will look to second-choice left-back Tyrone Mings to replace Cresswell, while the fee is likely to go towards strengthening the squad.

Cresswell's former club Tranmere Rovers are entitled to 20 per cent of the profit the Blues would make on the £420,000 they paid for him following his summer 2011 switch to Portman Road.

A Football League tribunal set a compensation figure of an initial £240,000 plus milestone clauses, with only a £100,000 payment on promotion to the Premier League not triggered.

Cresswell, named in the Championship Team of Year for 2013/14, has made 138 appearances for Town, all starts, scoring seven goals.

Coincidentally, West Ham are at Portman Road for their first friendly of pre-season on Wednesday 16th July (KO 7.45pm).

Photo: Action Images

bontcho added 15:34 - Jul 3 Although a shame this is how ITFC should operate. Get a promising young player, show faith in him, train him well, let him move on up the ladder and take a large fee which we reinvest a decent chunk of it into other players who hopefully do the same (and invest in our youth structure). It doesn't work each time - it's not a perfect science but if we scout well then hopefully we get a decent "strike rate". I really hope Mings steps up and does well. It's a great chance for him. We did it under Burley and eventually went up when we invested the Dyer money well.

6

runaround added 15:35 - Jul 3 Good luck Cressie. Would hope its a damn sight more than £2m but I guess he is only worth what someone is willing to pay. Hope Mick gets most of that after Tranmere's cut to strengthen. In some ways we need to replace his set piece delivery more than his defensive qualities which Mings can cover
2

carlisleaway added 15:36 - Jul 3 Will be a loss to the team but hope MM got good money for him. Best of luck to him but would have thought that a bigger club would have wanted him.
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bluemagic74 added 15:37 - Jul 3 Thanks Cresswell you've been great player for our club always giving your all, just a shame though you haven't gone to Southampton as think it would of been a wiser move for you plus I reckon they probably may have payed more.
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Jimmy86 added 15:39 - Jul 3 Gutted to see him leave and feel west ham isn't exactly a step up for him. feel sorry for him really coz he now has to work under that fat dinosaur allardyce. Cant help thinking that he didnt really want to go but has been effectively pushed out of the door. Hope the fee is at least 3 million closer to 3.5 or 4 though, otherwise its poor business. Hope evans allows mick toreinvest the whole fee in the playing squad and that we put in a sell on fee too. Wish cressy well but cant help but think he has been pushed out the door, so desperate are we for funds

8

kerryblue added 15:43 - Jul 3 Wish him all the best but yet again it shows lack of ambition by Marcus Evans in selling our prized assets,either put in more money or sell up Evans ,bring back the cobbolds
3

dirtyboy added 15:45 - Jul 3 Allardyce has committed to playing a more attractive style of football this year, so I see it being a good move for Cresswell. I sincerely wish the player all the best and hope he succeeds. Hopeful Mings can step up and concentrate on football instead of blow jobs lol!
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feelinblue2 added 15:46 - Jul 3 Terrible decision especially with the transfer fee muted and the current climate......Jake Livermore to Hull for 8m so would at least expect 4m minimum for Cresswell! Still been a valued player for us and hope this is another stepping stone to a decent club after West Ham. Best of Luck Aaron.
4

brassy added 15:50 - Jul 3 thanks and best of luck Aaron,for me top priority is a keeper.
1

Jimmy86 added 16:05 - Jul 3 Now go in for westwood and pay him a bit more in wages, he's on a free!!
3

tractorboybig added 16:06 - Jul 3 Puts this club into perspective. poor championship out fit that has to sell to stay in the championship. can mings step up to the plate?
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Jimmys_Law added 16:07 - Jul 3 It is a shame but it's something we've all seen coming for a long while now. As long as it's worth at least £3 million to us then It makes sense. I hope Mings can step up to the mark this season but we do need competition for that place now. Plenty of good LB's going on a free right now. Elokobi's been mentioned and there's Jonathan Parr as well.
2

muccletonjoe added 16:08 - Jul 3 We have to make sure the team is weakened as littlle as possible by this. Mings is worth a try but I would think mick will get in another left back as well
2

floridaboy added 16:15 - Jul 3 Don't have a problem with him going. Not guaranteed a starting place under Big Sam. Personally I think he is overrated. Lets be honest being named best left back in the championship is nothing special. There are not many decent defenders playing in that division. Anything round £3m will be good business. Think Mings can make the position his and prove to be a better player than Cresswell plus Mings is good in the air. Bye and we move on!

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bluelodgeblue added 16:27 - Jul 3 Cressy didn't have as good a season last year as the year before so that may influence both parties and sadly the price?? Am sure MM will use the money wisely providing ME lets have it all to spend, I have my doubts?????
1

brian_a_mul added 16:32 - Jul 3 He was always going, at least the club have done the business early and can prepare without too much distraction for the start of the season. Good squad management. Its likely a base fee with add ons for appearances etc.
2

ingyblue added 16:41 - Jul 3 Move on, re invest & push for play offs. All the best Aaron!
2

ingyblue added 16:42 - Jul 3 Move on, re invest & push for play offs. All the best Aaron!
1

Harvey1 added 16:53 - Jul 3 Glad this deal has happend early, and not closer to the first game of the season! We can build a sqaud without cressy now, and hopefully get a few players from the money we get! Maybe Chris Wood or Glen Murray?! Who knows? COYB
4

Samuelowen88 added 16:54 - Jul 3 DJ Campbell available on a free
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Palmface added 16:59 - Jul 3 That goal against Palace last season though...
1

Lightningboy added 16:59 - Jul 3 £2-3m?...that's abysmal business on our part considering Shaw's just gone for £33m. Not happy.
3

BlueandTruesince82 added 17:04 - Jul 3 Re Cressie going, fair enough its a bigger opportunity and more money. If someone offers me that I'll quite my job too. Big Sam is under massive pressure to deliver better football at WHU, cressie probably fits into that, although I wonder what kind of input Big Sam has on transfers this season. RE the fee anything less than 4 mill seems cheap, if snodarse is worth 8 then cressie must be worth 3.5 to 4. Comparing the fee to Shaws is a moot. Shaw has played PL footie, is in the England squad and looks like the future of Man U an England as it stands. That doesn't make him worth 30 million quid but that's football. I mean if carol is worth 35 mill the Diddsy must be worth 10 right? To my mind 3.5 to 4 mill plus a 20% sell on and other performance related add ons seems fair. What we don't know of course is how much his agent has been in his ear? Whether he has pushed for a move (doesn't seem the sort but again, agents) or if his head has been turned by 2 seasons of close season speculation. What I do believe is that MM will invest any money wisely if given the chance. Lets hope for a fat sell on clause and a blinding season from Cressie at the irons then if he goes for 20-3 million in a season or 2 perhaps one way or another we will realise his true value.

4

TimmyH added 17:15 - Jul 3 Really thought that the sale of Cresswell would have run almost into August and as others have mentioned surprised he's gone to West Ham. As for the transfer fee and talk of more than 2M and have to say doesn't sound that it won't be much more...just a hunch, if so that's not particularly good business - what about the other clubs who were interested in him, West Brom, Southampton etc, I would of thought the club would have been open to a bidding war but it seems like we've taken the first reasonable offer. The inevitable has happened let's just hope we hang on to Berra and McG!

3

brittaniaman added 17:21 - Jul 3 Now for a good goalkeeper !!! watching the world cup, it is amazing the difference that a good goalkeeper makes to the team with his positioning, anticipation and courage some of there saves have been out of this world in this cup. Good luck Aaron in your new employment and thanks !!!!
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