Ipswich Town could take advantage of West Ham situation for emotional reunion: View | OneFootball

Ipswich Town could look at reuniting with fan-favourite and former player Aaron Cresswell on a free transfer from West Ham this summer, but only if they gain promotion to the Premier League next season.

The Tractor Boys have been flying this season, with the team currently sitting top of the Championship with six games remaining.

Kieran McKenna's side have already looked like a ready-made Premier League team over the past eight months, playing fast-flowing and attractive football, so surely, with that style-of-play, they are strong suitors for many transfer targets in the upcoming transfer window.

One player they should look at making a target during the summer window is current West Ham left-back Aaron Cresswell.

The Liverpool-born fullback has experienced fantastic success with the Hammers over his decade with the East London side, but with his reported £50k-a-week contract set to expire this summer, he could make the move back to Portman Road.

Promotion will provide funds for Cresswell.

Transfers featuring a Premier League stalwart are not too unusual for top Championship teams, but with Cresswell still playing a role at West Ham, he will not be looking at dropping down a division just yet.

Therefore, it is likely this move will only happen if The Blues get promoted.

This likelihood will also be elevated by the huge financial gain that Ipswich may experience upon promotion.

As mentioned, Cresswell's wage is currently at £50k-per-week, and looking at Ipswich's top earners on permanent contracts, he would be earning more than double the next highest earner.

It has been reported though by Alan Nixon that Ipswich's current American owners, ORG Group, are willing to fund Kieran McKenna heavily if he succeeds in the remaining Championship games and reaches the Premier League.

Competition with Leif Davis

If Ipswich and McKenna decide to go ahead in pursuit of Cresswell, then it will leave current left-back Leif Davis considering if his stellar 23/24 campaign is worthy of Premier League moves elsewhere.

The left-back has been in fine form for the Tractor Boys, with the 24-year-old having already notched a fantastic 16 assists from fullback, as well as two goals, one of which came in the stunning last minute victory over Southampton on Easter Monday.

Newcastle and, ironically, West Ham are interested in the defender, so there could be the possibility of a swap between the two clubs.

However, if Davis decides to stay, Cresswell could play on the left of a defensive back three, as he has done at times for West Ham previously.

He could also provide competition for current left-sided centre back Cameron Burgess should Kieran McKenna choose to stick with his current 4-2-3-1 set up in the Premier League next season.

Top-flight experience will be vital in the Premier League

Out of the current squad, only three players boast experience of England's top flight, those being defender Axel Tuanzebe and attackers Sone Aluko and Kieffer Moore.

All three currently have deals that expire this summer, and therefore, if Ipswich are to make their return to the Premier League for the first time since 2002, they will need plenty of knowledge and knowhow of the top-flight.

Cresswell should be able to provide that with his impressive 342 appearances for West Ham all coming in the English top-flight, as well as in European competition.

He could very well prove to be a vital signing for the Tractor Boys if they do achieve promotion into the Premier League, and, with his existing connection with the club, any adaptation period would be significantly reduced.