Nayef Aguerd due at Rush Green on Thursday to complete West Ham United transfer despite Newcastle twist
Rennes centre-back Nayef Aguerd has already met West Ham staff ahead of his proposed move to the London Stadium this summer, according to ExWHUemployee.
Writing via his Patreon account on Wednesday (15 June), the reliable Hammers insider suggested that “mind games” could be at play over news that Newcastle have made a last-ditch attempt to hijack a deal for the 26-year-old Morocco international.
It is understood that the Magpies wanted Sven Botman but they backed out of that because Lille kept demanding more money, leading them to turn their attention to another left-sided centre-back in Aguerd.
ExWHUemployee suggests that the interest in Aguerd could be a move from Newcastle to soften Lille’s stance on Botman while he also admits: “It could even be that West Ham are saying this to make it seem more impressive that we beat off Newcastle to the signing.”
Ex finishes his post by reporting that he’s hoping Aguerd will sign for West Ham before the weekend and that he’s due at the club’s Rush Green training ground on Thursday (16 June).
Just get it done
We agree with what Ex is suggesting here.
Of course, Newcastle may well be trying to genuinely sign Aguerd because they’ve given up on Botman.
But if they wanted Aguerd that badly, they’d have made a move before they eyed up the Dutchman and we do feel as though this story has come out because they want Lille to lower their price.
It could also be West Ham playing games because, as Ex says, if we beat Newcastle – the richest club in the world – to a signing, it’ll make David Sullivan and co look very good.
Either way, we don’t care and we just want to see this deal done and dusted.
West Ham’s transfer business has been a joke so far in 2022.
We still really disagree with the decision to not sign anyone in January and our business at the start of this summer suggests it’s going to be a few months of frustration and let-downs.
Aguerd will hopefully come good. But what then?
Will we sign a new striker? Will we add to the centre of the midfield?
Unfortunately, we’re not expecting much.
In other West Ham news, the Irons have been offered the chance to sign this £12.8million goal machine after his club was relegated.
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