West Ham United told to cash in on Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma amid Saudi interest
Frank McAvennie has told West Ham to cash in on Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma this summer amid interest in the former from Saudi Arabian clubs.
Aguerd has been linked with an exit this summer [Ben Jacobs, 29 April], with the club set to demand a “significant” fee for his services despite turning down interest in January.
Zouma, meanwhile, has received plenty of criticism from McAvennie for his performances this season and the summer may be an ideal opportunity to assess the captain’s role at the club.
McAvennie – speaking exclusively to West Ham Zone – explained that he still believes the club need to sign two new centre-backs this summer amid doubts over the current options.
“Yeah, definitely. If I’m a centre-half and I can’t get into that team, I’d want to move,” McAvennie confessed when asked about interest from Saudi Arabian clubs.
“I don’t think Zouma has been covered in glory, has he? I don’t think he’s a captain. He’s not been the best player for me, sometimes you’ve got to step up as a captain and he’s been caught wanting.
“Maybe it’s because he’s been given the captaincy, maybe he can’t handle it. It’s simple things and basics again. If anyone comes in for the centre-halves I would sell them. We need to get two good centre-halves.
“I like Aguerd, he was decent when he came in with Ogbonna, but since Dawson left we’ve not had anybody that would go and win the ball. I’ve never seen so many centre-halves that don’t like heading the ball, I just don’t get it.”
Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd exits mooted at West Ham
Aguerd has had a complicated season at West Ham, having suffered from injury issues throughout the year while Zouma and Konstantinos Mavropanos have been the first-choice duo in the middle of David Moyes’ defensive unit.
A big-money move to one of the interested Saudi Arabian clubs could be the best move for all parties in this scenario, with West Ham raising money from his sale to reinvest in the squad as McAvennie has called for.
Zouma, meanwhile, has struggled to make his mark on the team, with McAvennie insisting on a number of occasions that he must be replaced for a better and more consistent option this summer despite being handed the captaincy.
The club have also identified the defence as a problem position, with several names now being linked with a possible move ahead of the summer transfer window which looks like being a busy one for the club once again.
In other West Ham news, the club have been labelled “embarrassing” for the treatment of Moyes.
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