The challenge facing West Ham’s recruitment team this summer just got bigger and tougher. Enough with six players at least leaving – now there’s a seventh who doesn’t want to be part of the ‘project’ and has made his intentions very clear. Graham Potter must feel like he’s playing wac-a-mole with his summer recruitment strategy: He tries to fix one problem and then another one pops up.
In addition to the ending of loan spells for Carlos Soler and Evan Ferguson, with both players returning to their parent clubs, Potter is now going to have to do without the on-loan Nayef Aguerd who has been ripping it up in Spain on loan with Real Sociedad.
Aguerd had been looking to leave West Ham for at least half of Moyes’ last season, even changing agents in the hope of engineering a move to the Saudi Pro-League. Finally he got his move on deadline day 2024 with Lopetegui sending him on a season-long ‘dry’ loan to Spanish side Real Sociedad.
Nayef Aguerd -sounds like he won’t be coming back
Potter is a known admirer of Aguerd had had reportedly been planning to re-integrate him this summer. According to ExWHUEmployee , Aguerd has no intentions of returning to London and has told the club accordingly. From his farewell message when heading out on-loan last year the signs were already pretty clear:
“I want to thank all the supporters for their constant support since l arrived. Your passion and loyalty have been a big inspiration and motivation for me. Also want to say a big thank you to the board, including everyone who works within the club, my past and current coaches, and all the staff who work behind the scenes with dedication and passion. A special thanks to my teammates, who welcomed me with amazing warmth and kindness. You made me feel at home from day one, and I will always remember that. Thank you for everything. #oncehammeralwayshammer.”
And that was in 2024: Maybe the message didn’t get through but he has no plans to come back from Real Sociedad. It will be an interesting stand-off: Whether the Spanish club can afford his salary – heavily subsidised by West Ham – and the £30 million-ish fee to buy him is another matter.
Time for some Sullivan haggling: West Ham were linked with Sociedad’s midfield dynamo Brais Mendez in the winter window as a makeweight in a part exchange deal for Aguerd.. and this could be a case of opportunity knocking for the Hammers if they play their cards right.
Time to sell him and cash in. Sociedad have been fortunate up to now financially as he is on loan with us subsidising wages. See what happens when they have to pay up. The main thing is he is happy there and could not manage the physicality of the Premier, so time to go.
Potter wants a smaller squad for practical reasons, but also to build up team spirit (like DM but he wore them out too) – so, Aguerd cannot stay really, not in a small squad where each player has to be willing, not in the PL either getting shoved off the ball. Aguerd has found his place and we’ll get some cash as he has been successful.
He might be playing well in Spain but he wasn’t actually pulling up trees when he was with us was he?
He always had a error in him so for me if he doesn’t come back he won’t be missed.
Actually, it’s not. It’s ExWHUEmployee’s story as you’ll see from the link and it’s true. Aguerd has asked to leave.
You might not like the story but verified by ex, an agent and the club now.
Yes he did in 2024.
try and get some up to date news
Hes under contract and still our player and if he’s told to come back he’ll have to he even said a couple of months ago he didn’t know where he would be and it’s up to west ham, this has all the hallmarks of that crap Insider story which is like a football comic