If the writing wasn’t already on the wall for West Ham’s £30 million defender Nayef Aguerd after the Aston Villa defeat, it certainly is now.
The Moroccan defender can have little doubt that he is now completely surplus to requirements under new Hammers head coach Julen Lopetegui. Unfortunately for the likable centre-back, he has no one to blame but himself.
It was Aguerd who switched agents in an attempt to facilitate a move from West Ham, and rumours have persisted about his availability since before last season’s Africa Cup of Nations. Nayef’s agents were not shy in publicising their new client’s availability to anyone who would listen, and it’s been an open secret that he’s been looking for an escape route for almost a year.
Aguerd is an extremely talented defender, and I do believe that under different circumstances, there would have been a pathway back into the first team under Lopetegui, whose tactics probably suit the player more than his predecessor David Moyes.
Unfortunately, the central defender has seen himself slip down the pecking order and is now fourth choice at best, with seemingly zero chance of getting Premier League game time.
I fully expect some form of transfer, be it a loan or otherwise, to happen for Aguerd within the next few days. However, it will not be on his terms and certainly not for the kind of transfer fee West Ham would have been hoping for.
If Aguerd isn’t in the squad for Bournemouth in the EFL Cup….. I expect him to be gone by Friday’s deadline.
I agree with Gonzo, he’s a talented player.
It would seem attitude not aptitude is the problem. Shame, a talented footballer.
Aguerd doesn’t suit a low block where his recovery speed isn’t needed. Ironically he would be far more suited to Lopetegui’s system, but he’s clearly been counted out.
Let’s hope someone comes in to buy him in the next 6 days. 🤞
This is such a weird one concerning Aguerd’s self-inflicted fall from grace as he looked to be, as you say, a very good defender.
When he was at the World Cup he looked the part, everyone, not just WHU fans, were raving about him, and we were all gutted when he sustained the injury.
Then he seemed to think he was too big for West Ham, and the stuff surrounding saving himself for the ACN was really disappointing.
Are other clubs aware of his behavior and believe it and is that why nobody wants to touch him?
He had far too many nightmare games for us under Moyes, and now JLo doesn’t seem impressed either. Now we’re stuck with him and he with us!
So his priority after being injured and over his country’s best chance at a trophy should have been 2/3 unimportant games for his mid table club that wouldn’t have moved the needle for them? After he put in massive shifts to stop y’all from getting relegated the season despite being injured for half of it?
Have a day off you lot