Aaron Cresswell is not Fulham’s number one transfer target, we can reveal.

Speculation has gathered pace that the Ipswich Town left-back could join a Premier League club before the transfer window shuts at the end of the month.

And with experienced Norwegian international John Arne Riise having said he expects to leave Fulham in the coming weeks, rumours emerged over the weekend that the Cottagers were lining up a £3.7m bid in order to make Cresswell his replacement.

However, it’s understood that the 23-year-old is neither their number one target for that position or within their budget.

“The bulk of the new owner’s transfer budget will be going on a striker,” said a source close to the London club.

“It’s unlikely that much more than £1m will be spent on a left-back and it’s felt that there are better value players for that position in the foreign leagues.

“Aaron Cresswell was on the club’s radar during his first season at Ipswich and clearly has the potential to step up to the Premier League, but many felt that he didn’t show quite enough progress last season to justify a big money move just yet.”

Former Town boss Paul Jewell signed Cresswell from League One side Tranmere for a tribunal set fee of £240,000, with a further £180,000 having been paid as the full-back hit several appearance milestones.

The Blues would have to pay Tranmere a further £100,000 if they were promoted to the Premier League this season, while – crucially – the Wirral club would receive 20 per cent of any profit Ipswich might make on selling the player at any stage in the future.

Town boss Mick McCarthy has hailed Cresswell as the best left-back in the Championship, while the player himself says he has loved his time at the club so far and has no desire to leave with two years left on his contract.