Pervis Estupinan has chosen Napoli over a return to the Premier League with West Ham United, but there is a chance the Villarreal flyer will be going nowhere this month, as reported by Calciomercato.
Aaron Cresswell will turn 32 in December.
But on the evidence of Sunday’s 4-2 opening day win at Newcastle United, there is plenty of life left in this old dog.
It was Cresswell who cancelled out Callum Wilson’s early opener at St James’ Park while supplying a steady stream of high-quality crosses from the left-sided role he has made his own during seven years in claret-and-blue.
But with Cresswell arguably better suited to a more central role these days – and with the oft-crocked Arthur Masuaku missing yesterday through yet-another injury – there is certainly a space in David Moyes’ squad for an out-and-out, attack-minded left-back.
Enter Estupinan.
Will West Ham miss out on this £15m La Liga star?
Having failed to make a single first-team appearance during four seasons as a Watford player, Ecuador international Estupinan certainly has unfinished business in England.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, however, Estupinan has told his agent that he would rather don the baby blue of Napoli, West Ham failing to win over a man who has started just 12 La Liga games since joining Villarreal in a £15 million deal last summer.
That is not to say Estupinan is destined to play Serie A football next season.
Unai Emery has reportedly asked his Villarreal bosses to retain the services of the swashbuckling 23-year-old; the former Arsenal and PSG coach believing that Estupinan could come in very handy given Alberto Moreno’s history of fitness problems.
According to Calciomercato, Napoli agreed a £15.5 million deal with Villarreal last week.
As it stands, however, it looks like Estupinan will not be going anywhere – not to West Ham and not to the Stadio San Paulo either.
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