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Mogging, framemaxxing, whatever the kids call it these days, that is exactly what Charlie Cresswell did to former West Ham United centre-half Nayef Aguerd as Toulouse edged out Marseille in the Coupe de France quarter-finals on Wednesday night.
A last-eight tie in Occitania saw a defender West Ham United remain hopeful of signing – Charlie Cresswell has been imperious since moving to France from Leeds – up against a defender most fans could hardly wait to see the back of.
And as Cresswell tossed Nayef Aguerd around the penalty area like a ragdoll, the vast difference in physicality between the two men could hardly have looked more stark.
Finish this sentence: Axel Disasi is West Ham’s BEST DEFENDER since…
West Ham United target Charlie Cresswell scores as Toulouse beat Marseille
Marseille stormed into an early lead when Mason Greenwood converted a penalty he won with less than 30 seconds on the clock. Toulouse’s equaliser, though, would come from a fairly familiar source.
Cresswell has produced eight goals and five assists from centre-half in 60 games for the Ligue 1 outfit. He would not be credited with another assist here, though it was the Preston-born colossus who forced the save from which Yan Gboho converted; rising above Aguerd with ease before powering a header goalward.
Photo by LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP via Getty Images
Toulouse rejected a number of offers for Cresswell in the January transfer window. A decision they will consider vindicated as a Coupe de France semi-final looms.
On the hour mark, the 6ft 3ins, Preston-born England Under-21 international stormed through another crowded penalty area to thump Toulouse into the lead for the first time.
Again, leaving a helpless, hapless Aguerd in his wake.
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Credit: Getty Images/Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar Nayef Aguerd’s physical issues show up again with Marseille
Aguerd has come in for criticism at Marseille of late, and this will only intensify the scrutiny.
Sold for £17.5 million on deadline day, the Moroccan found it difficult coping with the physical demands of English football. So it was fitting, really, that his aerial limitations would be exposed in the most brutal fashion by Toulouse’s Lancastrian giant.
Hammers News can confirm that West Ham hoped to sign Cresswell in January. Toulouse stood firm, though, necessitating a late pursuit of Axel Disasi.
The Frenchman is only on loan at the London Stadium – Chelsea are not thinking about a sale at this stage – so expect Cresswell to find himself at the centre of another transfer saga come the summer.
Did you know that no Hammers centre-back has scored a Premier League goal since Konstantinos Mavropanos in 2023? If Cresswell finally arrives in East London, one suspects that stat will not last for long.
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