George Overhill

Wed 6 September 2023 12:55, UK

Nayef Aguerd leaving West Ham for Saudi Arabia “won’t happen now” with the defender “very happy” at the club, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Italian journalist reported via Twitter on 6 September that the Hammers see the Moroccan international as a “top centre back” after already rejecting multiple bids for him.

According to Romano, both the club and the 27-year-old are not minded to consider a departure and he will stay at the London Stadium.

Sky Sports had reported on 5 September that West Ham didn’t want to lose Aguerd as they couldn’t replace him any longer, but an “extraordinary” bid could have forced them to listen.

Secure

Losing a regular West Ham starter after the close of the transfer window would have been a destabilising influence on the squad that has started the Premier League season so strongly.

David Moyes brought in Konstantinos Mavropanos as reinforcement for his centre-back grouping, and had substantial interest in Manchester United’s Harry Maguire but a move collapsed.

With the Greek international added to a squad that already boasts Kurt Zouma, Angelo Ogbonna and Thilo Kehrer it leaves the manager with a strong selection.

It took a long time, and plenty of effort, for Moyes and Tim Steidten to reinforce the Irons playing staff this summer so it is a positive development that the work won’t be undercut by the Saudi window remaining open this week.

There is a potential gap up front after West Ham failed in their late attempts to add a striker before the deadline, but overall the early performances suggest the right decisions were made in the market.

Aguerd was a big-money arrival last summer and after losing one of those already in Gianluca Scamacca, and coming close to seeing a second depart with Manchester City’s push for Lucas Paqueta, the club has now seen off late attempts on a third.

In other West Ham news, a late signing in the other direction is still possible as an 32-cap ace is “hopeful” of impressing the manager