News that West Ham are expecting large transfer bids for Nayef Aguerd late in the transfer window is slightly concerning. The interest is reportedly going to come from Saudi Arabia, with the Hammers understood to be holding out for £35M.
In theory, it all sounds very impressive. Moroccan International Aguerd is supposedly keen to move to the Saudi Pro League, which is known to be awash with money.
However, this is not the first time West Ham has had the carrot of a Saudi transfer dangled in front of them, only for nothing to materialise. Last season, Hammers forward Michail Antonio was the subject of an inquiry from an unnamed Saudi club, but most reports at the time seemed to agree that the Jamaican forward was not offered any increase on his West Ham salary.
More recently, there was speculation that West Ham sensation Mohammed Kudus was of interest to numerous wealthy Saudi clubs who could have purchased him for the bargain price of £85m before July 3rd. The Saudi Pro League’s summer transfer window opened at midnight on July 1st, so any interested clubs had at least 48 hours to pay the money and activate his release clause. Yet no bid was forthcoming thankfully.
I’m not for a moment suggesting there is no money in the Saudi Pro League. After all, Aleksandar Mitrovic decided to leave Fulham last year in a £46 million move to Al-Hilal, who agreed to pay the Serbian international £400k per week.
However, I would argue that there are more speculated big-money transfers to Saudi Arabia than actual blockbuster deals, it’s not quite the stuff of myth but most deals don’t happen.
If any club seriously wants to buy Nayef Aguerd from West Ham, they can bid for him now. Therefore, the stories that Saudi clubs can afford him but will choose to wait until the end of the window just don’t ring true.
It sounds suspicious and it would be foolish for West Ham if they base their defensive rebuilding program around an idle promise.
I would like to see him stay and given a chance in a defence where we will hopefully not be defending on our own 18 yard line for 75 minutes of the game. We have bought Kilman who I believe is a left sided CB and Aguerd is also a left sided CB and with Oggy going this is a starter and a very competent back up which either one starts, with Dino being a Right footed CB and looking to bring in another that would be four very good CB’s with balance which we definitely need. We are looking at AWB from the Mancs and so I guess he would start over Coufal who I think was actually really good last season so that’s starter and cover on the right being really solid and with Emerson being one of my contenders for HOTY last year we just need a cover there (not reliant on Cresswell despite new deal) and our defence certainly doesn’t look like the nightmare 74 goals against line up we endured last season.
We all could see the talent Aguerd had but he wasn’t suited to EPL football, or Moyes broke him.
Why should we settle for what we paid for him? In a league like that, if the rumors are true, then we should be asking 50 million. OK, we might not get it, but don’t show them how bloody desperate Sulli is to get his wages off the books. Play a clever game and make them cough off, not like they don’t have the dosh.
Is he back here in training or has he refused to come back? Should he not at least give JLoa chance to show him that the coaching will be better?
Why would a Saudi club buy now and take on his huge wages when they can wait and buy him towards the end of the window with a lower bid? They know there won’t be a scramble for him after all. Personally I’d like to see him stay and partner Kilman but we will see what develops.
Really good point. Perhaps with the ? off the pitch and another partner he might enjoy his football. At least we’re EPL. What other league does he think is better, unless a club is in Europe?
Agree Gonzo, it’s a tough one because if we buy say Toddy (Nice) and then we still have Aguerd to sell they will know we are desperate to sell so will haggle the price down.