Sam Allardyce has dismised reports suggesting that West Ham have place a £25million price tag on Aaron Cresswell.
The left-back - who cost West Ham £4million last summer - has turned a number of heads in recent weeks and months with a series of strong performances for the Hammers. Both Manchester City and Chelsea are reported to have expressed an interest in signing the 25-year-old, Liverpool-born defender.However reports that West Ham have told potential suitors to come back with an offer close to £25million were laughed off today by Sam Alllardyce, who said: "I have heard somebody say we have put a buyout on him.
"Well, that’s the first I know about it. I haven’t heard anything from the owners about that. As far as I am concerned, no-one has bid for Aaron. So, it’s all pure rumours and speculation, which has to fill the huge amount of media space that you have to fill.
“Somebody may have whispered in your ear that clubs are interested in one of our players and that shifts across the board. Players can lose that focus when there is rumour. I need to make sure Aaron does what he can all season - and performs on a consistent basis."
Allardyce also warned Cresswell against following the likes of Scott Sinclair, Adam Johnson and former Hammer Scott Parker - promising young English players whose careers faltered at top clubs - by urging him to remain at the Boleyn.
"Is he better off staying here? There’s no doubt about that, because he's in year one of the Premier League," said Allardyce. "Aaron now needs to grow from that experience.
"We have all seen players do that and then in year two it’s more of a disaster than the impressive first year.
"His challenge is to continue to work as hard than he has this year, not to rest on his laurels and not to think that he’s made it."
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