West Ham United locate perfect Nayef Aguerd partner in AS Roma defender Roger Ibanez as transfer news emerges
West Ham United may well have found their perfect defensive partner for Nayef Aguerd with the Hammers reportedly interested in AS Roma defender Roger Ibanez.
The 24-year-old who’s become a household name in Rome has a contract at the Stadio Olimpico until June 2025, but Jose Mourinho could be forced into selling his prized asset this summer.
Italian outlet Roma Giallo Rosa revealed on 18 June that West Ham face a battle with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur for the Brazilian with Roma sporting director Tiago Pinto jetting into London last Friday (16 June) to negotiate a sale.
Amid discussions over Gianluca Scamacca’s move the other way, talks were reportedly held over a possible signing of the Brazilian centre-back and the Hammers may have the upper hand on their rivals, with Calciomercato claiming on 14 June that the East Londoners will look to explore a swap deal involving the two players.
Following the crucial departure of Craig Dawson in the January transfer window and now with Angelo Ogbonna still yet to secure his future at the London Stadium, with new contract terms offered, David Moyes looks like he will require some much-needed defensive reinforcements this summer.
Key defensive stalwart Kurt Zouma has proven a crucial outlet in recent months but his lack of durability and availability has certainly hampered the West Ham United domestic progress last season and Moyes will need a player capable of slotting in along his back-line and performing the role reliably alongside Aguerd for much of the new campaign.
In his first campaign in the Premier League, Aguerd has looked right at home in East London, especially after his tremendous exploits at the World Cup in Qatar in December. The Moroccan bagged two goals, helped the Hammers to five clean sheets while averaging 1.5 interceptions, and 1.0 tackles per game, and won 64% of his ground duels and 51% of his aerial duels.
Despite his strong showings, he hasn’t had the luxury of a guaranteed starter alongside him and Ibanez represents the ideal candidate given his stunning upward trajectory for the Giallorossi and his incredible usefulness to Mourinho. The Brazilian juggernaut made 48 total appearances as Roma finished sixth Serie A and made it to the Europa League final.
Dubbed “outstanding” by journalist Josh Bunting, Ibanez proved one of Serie A’s most consistent and destructive defenders, firstly registering more interceptions per 90 than anyone in the Roma squad [WhoScored], but also ranking 2nd in the division for the metric and seventh within all centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues [FBRef], and ranking in the 97th percentile.
The 24-year-old maintained a 7.00 average rating in Serie A alongside an 88% pass accuracy and two interceptions, two tackles and 2.8 clearances per game, via Sofascore, once again proving why he is certainly ready for the next step in his career should Roma be forced to let him go this season.
With West Ham United embarking on another European journey next season, Moyes and his men still represent an attractive proposition for established European stars to join the new London Stadium revolution.
And given their ailing need to locate a dominant and reliable Aguerd defensive partner for next season, the Hammers can now sign off on the perfect candidate to consistently partner the Moroccan defender next season in Ibanez.