However much, it seemed, West Ham tried to move on players this summer, one or two resisted every move that came their way. Eventually, even the more stubborn – Maxi Cornet for example – made it out to a new club before the end of the window on a loan agreement.
Another who seemingly turned up his nose at every Premier League option – along with Middle Eastern opportunities despite taking on his own Dubai agent – was Nayef Aguerd. Indeed Gonzo wrote a piece earlier this summer claiming that the defender’s intransigence and resistance to every club who wanted to buy him might have cost West Ham £20 million in lost fees as the only deal he agreed to was the loan – with no purchase option – to Real Sociedad right at the 11th hour.
West Ham of course agreed to him being loaned out, but it caused us an ‘ongoing’ defender issue with no time to replace and now only three centre-backs.
From the sound of it, Aguerd’s move is a massive success. I’ll bet Sociedad wish they had a purchase option with a fixed price in it, because from the news coming from Estadiodeportivo.com indicates that he’s finally found his niche!
In a report labelled “Aguerd is Saved from The Fire’:
“Nayef Aguerd has been the most outstanding player for Real Sociedad in this initial stretch of the season. The Moroccan centre-back is one of the few redeemable aspects of the team’s last few matches.”:
Success on-loan – Nayef Aguerd – it sounds like he won’t be coming back
“Nayef Aguerd is the only new player this summer who is worth a space in the starting eleven” –
And Hammers fans will be open mouthed at:
“The 28-year-old Moroccan centre-back has been one of the big news stories this summer. The player has landed in San Sebastian on loan from West Ham United, and since his arrival he has become a regular in the centre of defence. His great debut against Real Madrid showed the level of an elite defender. Later, he established himself as the ‘boss’ of the rearguard against Mallorca.”
‘An Elite Defender’? Perhaps Aguerd is simply a man on a mission to prove West Ham wrong for wanting to move him on: Great ! His transfer value next summer keeps on going up.. and up.
Even Zouma on one leg is a better defender than Mazropanous, Aguerd also and we loan out Ward Prowse and bring in Rodriquez? Kilman, Summerville and Wan-Bissaka sound buys, Guilherme, Kante and Todibo young and hopefully will improve. Soler don’t know Fullkrub totally unsuited for PL and another Zaza! I’ve seen nothing pre-season or anything so far to suggest that we’re any better in fact we’re shambolic and team’s with pace can waltz through our midfield unchallenged. Tonight we’ll be 2 down by halftime and probably lose 3/4 nil just hope he doesn’t play Todibo and expose him in team that is disorganised and tactically naive. Would love to be proved wrong but sick and tired of the same excuses defeat after defeat!
Let’s hope the loan is converted to a sale in January, and the funds used to get Duran!!