TRANMERE Rovers expect they have said their farewells to Aaron Cresswell, who is lined up to join Championship club Ipswich Town today.

Cresswell’s contractual ties to Prenton Park expired last night, leaving the left-back free to sign for a new club. The 21-year-old Liverpudlian’s destination is almost certainly Portman Road. Ipswich have made at least two offers to Tranmere over the settlement of a compensation fee, both of which were declined.

If the clubs cannot agree on a figure, which has to be paid for players under the age of 24, the fee will be settled by a tribunal.

Doncaster Rovers have also been linked to Cresswell, who established himself as Tranmere’s first choice left-back last season and declined the offer of a new contract to stay on at Prenton Park.

Manager Les Parry said: “Aaron is out of contract with as from July 1, so he can do what he wants. He can go and sign for another club.

“Obviously there will be a compensation fee involved but he does not need to come back to us now. It’s completely up to him.

“We have declined compensation offers from two Championship clubs for Aaron and Ipswich have just increased theirs. But it is still a long way short of what we expect.

“He can go there if he wants to and they would just go to a tribunal for the compensation fee. The other possibility is he would go abroad and then we would get nothing.”

Cresswell’s consistent form last season, together with a developing expertise in dead ball situations, caused a number of Championship clubs to take notice of the youngster.

Parry added: “I would love Aaron to stay but I don’t think he’s going to stay. I’ve always said I want to see all of our players progress to a higher level.”

Dale Jennings, the subject of transfer offer from Bayern Munich, is training at Prenton Park while Tranmere await response from the German giants in the latest round of negotiations.