West Ham are keeping a close eye on England U21 centre-back Charlie Cresswell, according to ExWHUEmployee via The West Ham Way Podcast. The club view the Toulouse defender as a serious summer target as they aim to bring in younger, homegrown talent.

Cresswell has impressed with his performances in Ligue 1 and for England’s U21 side. At just 21, he fits the profile of the kind of player West Ham’s recruitment lead Kyle Macaulay and new head coach Graham Potter want to build around.

£18 Million Price Tag from Toulouse

The Sun also claims Toulouse are asking for around £18 million to let go of the defender. That fee could be a potential hurdle, as West Ham look to manage their budget during what’s expected to be a busy window for both incoming and outgoing players.

Cresswell joined Toulouse from Leeds United last year and appears to have settled well in France. Sunderland are also reportedly interested, but West Ham’s Premier League standing and the project under Potter might be a more attractive option for the player.

Squad Rebuild Gathers Momentum

West Ham’s early efforts this summer have mostly focused on offloading players and raising funds. Now the attention is shifting to bringing new faces in, with Cresswell looking like a priority addition.

There hasn’t been an official approach yet, but the level of interest suggests talks could kick off in the near future. With recruitment plans speeding up, the next few weeks may see developments on multiple targets.