Alex Crook tips West Ham United to use Nayef Aguerd as ‘makeweight’ in Max Kilman ‘swap deal’
Alex Crook has suggested that West Ham United could use Nayef Aguerd as a “makeweight” in a potential swap deal for Wolves defender Max Kilman this January.
David Moyes is keen to add to his defensive options during the January transfer window as the Hammers prepare for the second half of the season and one name repeatedly linked with the switch to East London has been Wolves star Kilman.
However, with reports emerging that Aguerd is keen to leave the London Stadium this January as his representatives try to find him a new club [Sean Whetstone, 4 January], talkSPORT reporter Crook has suggested that a swap deal could suit all parties.
As quoted by Give Me Sport (8 January) he said: “The name that is mentioned to me – and he was on their radar before – is Max Kilman at Wolves. You now wonder, with these stories about Aguerd potentially being available, whether they could even use him as a makeweight in some kind of swap deal.
“I think Gary O’Neil has admitted that, when it comes to profit and sustainability rules in the Premier League, Wolves are still fairly close to the margin. That does make them vulnerable if someone comes in and makes a big-money offer for one of their players.”
An interesting plan
It does seem likely that Aguerd could depart the London Stadium during the January transfer window, but it would be an odd trade if West Ham were to send him to Molinuex in exchange for Kilman’s services this month.
In an ideal world, you would imagine that both teams would be keen to keep each player beyond the end of the transfer window and it wouldn’t really solve either side’s problem if they were to just exchange centre-backs.
Maybe Aguerd could be used as a form of makeweight as Crook suggested, but you would imagine the Hammers would prefer to sell him abroad and then use that money to buy Kilman outright without then strengthening a rival.
The positive piece of news from a West Ham perspective is the news that Wolves’ FFP struggles could see them forced to accept a big money offer. Should the Hammers be able to find the cash to put in a bid before the end of the month, the Englishman could well soon be lining up in claret and blue.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers are reportedly “tracking” Jack Clarke as a potential alternative to Steven Bergwijn