West Ham United told to sell Nayef Aguerd in January as £30m transfer exit news emerges at London Stadium
We’re delighted to welcome former West Ham United striker Frank McAvennie as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the London Stadium…
Frank McAvennie believes Nayef Aguerd will certainly be tempted by the money being offered by Saudi Arabian clubs and West Ham United would be powerless to stop him.
Fabrizio Romano reported via X [3 January] that multiple Saudi clubs have registered an interest in the Moroccan centre-back. AC Milan and AS Roma have also approached the Hammers but are only able to offer loan deals, which West Ham will not accept.
6foot2 editor Sean Whetstone tweeted on Thursday (4 December) that Aguerd agents are trying to find him a new club and days at the London Stadium “appear to be numbered” as the Hammers won’t stand in his way if they can re-coup the £30million they paid to sign him from Rennes in 2022.
Speaking to West Ham Zone, McAvennie said: “Yeah, sorry, I would sell him.
“I know that the money they’re getting nowadays is huge, but if they come in for him, they’re gonna give him fortunes.
“If somebody is spending that kind of money and they’re offering four or five hundred grand a week, you ain’t gonna want to stay.
“I don’t care about all this nonsense that players are going to Saudi Arabia for the culture, no that’s rubbish, you’re going there for the money.”
This is a development that will probably be greeted by some West Ham fans with great disappointment after Aguerd has put in some excellent performances for the club over the past 18 months.
The defender had a difficult start to life at the London Stadium after being sidelined through injury for the first months of his time at the club.
But he quickly nailed down a starting spot on his return to action and was instrumental in helping the Hammers lift the Europa Conference League trophy last season.
While the Moroccan has featured heavily during the first half of this campaign, his performance levels have dipped at times, with some previously unseen errors creeping into his game which has certainly led to several rumours flying around considering his future at the club.
The money offered by Saudi clubs are incredibly excessive as we saw summer last year and should Aguerd be offered such, it won’t be a surprise to see him take it which may come as a source of anger to West Ham United.
If West Ham United were to recoup the money spent on his services, Aguerd will certainly be out of the door. Whether that comes this month, is another matter entirely.
In other West Ham news, a Premier League manager has made a decision on a player the Hammers want to sign.