West Ham United: Nayef Aguerd expected to ‘thrive’ after Monday transfer
West Ham United announced the £30million signing of Stade Rennes defender Nayef Aguerd on Monday 20 June after weeks of rumours.
The 26-year-old spent two seasons with the Ligue 1 club and helped them to great successes during that time but has now taken the next big step in his career.
French football expert Jonathan Johnson is very excited to see what the Moroccan international can do in the Premier League and expects him to thrive at the London Stadium.
“They are getting a very well-rounded player,” Johnson said to Sky Sports. “He has been an impressive part of what has been a very well-oiled Rennes team and he’s a very commanding player.
“I don’t think that he will take too long to adapt to the Premier League – I think his skill set is already well suited to that, but perhaps from a cultural point of view it might take him a little bit of time to settle in. But I certainly think he’s a player who will thrive in the Premier League once he does adapt to his surroundings and to his new teammates.
“I think he can develop himself into a player who is recognised as one of the best in the Premier League in that position, but it might take some time.”
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The capture of Aguerd is a great bit of business from the club but there is no time for us to rest on our laurels because there are more holes in the squad that need filling as soon as possible.
Most notably, we need another striker to both compete and help Michail Antonio which has been lacking for two transfer windows now since Sebastien Haller left West Ham for Ajax.
As well as a number nine, we only have two senior central midfielders in Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek and we found out last season that we can’t have those play every single game and expect them to be capable of being at their best for every minute of the season.
Conor Coventry could fill one of those backup roles but a new midfielder needs to be purchased and the same could be said at left-back and in goal with various exits causing us to be light on numbers.