Which left-back should West Ham sign to replace Aaron Cresswell?

When Aaron Cresswell got tackled and stayed on the floor in agony during the game against Karlsruher SC we were all worried. Worried that we may be without one of our main men when we start the season and it has just been confirmed to be true. Cresswell will be out for up to four months meaning that we are unlikely to see him until our Christmas fixtures. Now there’s no doubt that he’ll be a huge miss and has to be replaced by a player of equal quality. Here are three players that West Ham should consider…

Daley Blind

Yes, this is the most unrealistic of the three though we would be fools to not even consider signing Blind. With rumours surrounding his future at Manchester United and doubts over whether Jose Mourinho actually rates him, why shouldn’t we at least try?

Yes, he is not a left-back by trade and prefers to play as a defensive midfielder though he has shown at both the World Cup and at Manchester United that he is comfortable playing there. He may not be the fastest player but he does make up for this with his intelligence and excellent positioning which ensures that he is hardly exploited in a 1v1 situation. Just look at how he handled Romelu Lukaku last season. Blind is also known for his passing ability which will certainly improve our attacks and his versatility means that he can cover at CB, LB and DM, making him the perfect squad player.

Kieran Gibbs

Having missed out on a place in England’s Euro 2016 squad and only started three Premier League games for Arsenal last season, Gibbs needs to look elsewhere. He is only 26 years old and was once tipped to be England’s future LB though Nacho Monreal’s consistent performances has kept Gibbs on the bench. This may not be a signing that excites fans but Gibbs knows the league well and has experience at Champions League level.

Being a winger early on in his career has meant that he can put good crosses in and is a good passer of the ball, attributes that are vital to a modern day left-back.

Ben Chilwell

Unlike both of the above this is certainly a risk and one for the future. Chilwell is only 19 years old yet has been tipped by Claudio Ranieri to be a ‘fantastic player for Leicester City’. Although he has not played a single game for Leicester in the Premier League he did gain some experience on loan in the Championship where he was praised for his ability to bomb forward with his speed and ability to put the ball in the box.

Now many, including myself, haven’t seen much of Chilwell and his name won’t be mentioned frequently when discussing Cresswell’s replacement. Let’s not forget that signing Cresswell was a risk, he had not played in the Premier League previously thus there was no guarantee that he would adapt to its tough nature. Should we sign Chilwell we would have another fantastic young talent on our hands alongside the likes of Reece Oxford and Ashley Fletcher.