West Ham will not allow on-loan defender Nayef Aguerd to leave on the cheap next season.
The Moroccan centre-back has been in exemplary form for Real Sociedad since moving to La Liga on loan and has attracted interest from some of Europe’s top clubs.
The former Stade Rennais F.C. defender moved to the London Stadium in the summer of 2022 for £30m after being chased by David Moyes. Unfortunately, Aguerd never settled into the former manager’s defensive system and struggled to adapt to the Premier League. As a result, his value diminished.
West Ham would have been happy to take offers in the region of £20m last summer, but a top club source informed Claret & Hugh at the time that there were no serious transfer bids for the defender. With little time remaining in the window, Aguerd chose to move to Sociedad on loan rather than Galatasaray as Bundesliga interest fizzled out.
Since his move to Spain, the 28-year-old has been a revelation, and his value has increased with his improved performances. Speaking to a source late last night, C&H were told that if Graham Potter does not wish to reintegrate Aguerd into his squad next season, he will not leave on the cheap.
“West Ham will not take silly offers,” we were told.
“A lot of clubs had their chance, but it’s win/win for the club now. Either the player comes back to London, or he gets sold, but silly offers of £15-20m won’t be enough now… He’ll cost top money.”
La Liga giants Real Madrid and Barcelona are both understood to be interested in the player.
Aguerd can play and is a good defender, with speed and good feet but played in a team that exposed him as we were far too deep and invited the opposition to find gaps. He also had Emerson outside him who will all know just doesn’t defend and also left him exposed. I’d have him back tomorrow
Mavrapanos … who will take him … we will be lucky to give him away ….. come back Aguard ..
Looking to build a war chest … but we do need a centre half ….. so maybe a win win ….. sell or Keep
La Liga is a two team league ( Barca and Real Madrid ) and so if Aguerd plays for either will have an easy time as compared to Premier League ( big six ) . He could also play in the Bundesliga for Bayern a one team league , :for PSG a one team league or Seria A a two team league ( Juve and Inter ) . He’ll do great against the various assorted pub teams that make up the numbers in all those leagues . There are precious few easy games in the Premuer League with the big six and so only good players can get good stats there .
Aguerd is a very fine player who Moyes made look ordinary. He isn’t suited to low block (moyes ball) style, it really wouldn’t surprise me if Potter were to utilise his quality next season – for me he’s a quarterback who given time in the pocket, could be devastating with varying through passes long and short range. He has good recovery speed which is useful when Paq or Mo lose the ball in advanced positions. I strongly believe Moyes broke him by playing the turgid sh1t we were all subjected to in the 2nd half of last season.
Forget this season, it’s done – 16 more points and we can look forward to a full season under Potter. Btw – we’ve never had a successful foreign manager from outside the club (Billic had Payet and was the exception).
Great News …. So Kudus and Aguerd and Paqueta and Rodriguez and maybe Guilherme plus areola I think we will have a good budget of around 200 million and I think potter in his choices is better than steidten and perigee put together
Spot on, Craig. What if Potter doesn’t want him *and* neither do any of the (very) small number of clubs in Spain who could actually afford to spend €30m+ for him? The club needs to be more sensible about player values. I’m glad Aguerd’s doing well in Spain, but ultimately if he’s not wanted by Potter, we need to take what we can get for him and reinvest that in a player the manager wants, as loaning him out again would be pointless.
I’d have him back. Pacy, great left foot and a decent footballer. Looked exposed in a two at the back but I think playing in the left of a three, as potter likes to play, he could be perfect
Bring Aguerd back into the fold. Use his experience to support our future stars infrom the under 21 team
Totally agree Craig, he wasn’t happy in London ,move on for a good fee
hopefully the club are not over greedy and sell at a good price but not to much to put others off…..Would i take him back no not really not because of his lack of ability but because the Premier league is to physical for him IMO where as in Spain he has more time on the ball to show his strengths here he to often went missing when the going got tough and that had nothing to do with the manager it is just the mindset of the player