Nayef Aguerd tipped to be next West Ham United captain after Declan Rice leaves – ExWHUemployee
West Ham defender Nayef Aguerd could be the leading candidate to replace Declan Rice as Hammers captain once he leaves, according to ExWHUemployee.
The Moroccan international, who played a key role in his country’s tremendous World Cup exploits in Qatar in December, has played a vital role in David Moyes’ side in recent weeks, despite struggling with injuries for much of the campaign.
The Hammers have undergone a small resurgence in the Premier League, with which the 24-year-old has excelled especially last weekend against Newcastle United in the 1-1 draw at St James’ Park.
Aguerd started and played 90 minutes for the Hammers and proved a decisive defensive component for his style, putting in a masterclass showing in a game they could not afford to lose.
Speaking on The West Ham Way podcast [9 February], Ex revealed that he’d back the £30m summer signing to replace Rice as Hammers captain once he leaves.
He said: “If Declan does go in the summer, which I’m pretty sure he is, then I think he [Aguerd] would be a great shout to be captain as well, and apparently, he’s a real, real great lad as well, which is really good to hear.
“From what I’ve heard from all the staff, from all the other players, he’s very well-liked, a bit of a joker, a bit of a bubbly character, so for me, he’s got the whole package.”
“[Moyes] lost him from before we even kicked a [ball] in the Premier League, and that was a massive loss for us. There’s no coincidence that things are turning with him in the side.”
Why not?
The Hammers are losing a lot of leaders in their squad especially following Craig Dawson’s departure to Wolverhampton Wanderers last month, and are sure to lose a couple more in the summer.
All of Rice, Vladimir Coufal, Angelo Ogbonna, Tomas Soucek, and Michail Antonio face uncertain immediate futures at the London Stadium, which means the club is going to need a new leader to drive them forward.
And Aguerd represents a pretty safe bet to rely upon, considering his huge impact when he’s featured for the Hammers despite an injury-plagued campaign so far.
The defender is also a leader and a reliable presence for his country as he tremendously showed at the World Cup in Qatar. The Hammer could well be short on personalities this summer, and the Moroccan rock certainly possesses the qualities and class to become the club’s next leader.