Forgotten Chelsea star wanted by West Ham in £20m transfer swoop as Hammers splash Declan Rice cash

WEST HAM UNITED will demand Wolves pay close to £5m for Aaron Cresswell.

Cresswell, 33, recently signed a one-year extension to his contract until 2024 – but the Hammers are open to offers for the left-back as they look to revamp their squad.

Wolves have offered to pay £2.5m but will need to front up more to get their man, having also signed former East London centre back Craig Dawson in January.

Emerson Palmieri is currently West Ham’s first choice left back, having started both their pre-season games out in Australia, as well as last month’s Europa Conference League final victory.

But boss David Moyes is keen to add more youth to his starting XI, with Chelsea’s 21-year-old full-back Ian Maatsen – who spent last season on loan at Burnley – a target.

Maatsen is currently out in the United States with the Blues hoping to impress new manager Mauricio Pochettino.

But he faces immense competition up against Ben Chilwell, Marc Cucurella and Lewis Hall.

And the Dutchman could look for a move away for regular football.

Maatsen is valued at around £20m, with West Ham looking to spend the £105m received from Arsenal for Declan Rice wisely in the coming weeks.

West Ham are yet to make a move in this window.

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They have so far failed in their attempts to bring in Fulham’s Joao Palhinha for £45m and Manchester United’s Harry Maguire on loan.

The Hammers are also looking to land Ajax midfielder Edson Alvarez after an initial approach.