Nayef Aguerd rejects West Ham United exit as £90k-a-week wages complicate sale process
Nayef Aguerd has rejected a move away from West Ham to an unnamed club in the Bundesliga, according to The Guardian.
Jacob Steinberg reported via the paper’s website on 26 August that the Moroccan “responded reluctantly” after being given the chance to make a loan switch to Germany. The deal was set to include a permanent option.
There is also interest in the Middle East but his wages, thought to be around £90,000-a-week, are said to be complicating efforts to sell him.
West Ham set to offload Kurt Zouma
After signing Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo there is a backlog of senior centre-backs in the Hammers squad that needs to be eased before the end of the week.
An alternative solution for Kurt Zouma’s future appears to have been found after his move to Shabab Al-Ahli collapsed, with the Frenchman arriving for a medical in Saudi Arabia with Al Orobah [Fabrizio Romano, 26 August].
If Aguerd isn’t set to feature extensively under Julen Lopetegui the club would surely like to get his contract off the wage bill, and ideally a decent fee to offset the heavy spending this summer.
Aguerd has long been linked to Saudi Pro League interest [Romano, 6 September] so he may be holding out for a move which sees him follow former London Stadium defensive partner Zouma.
The Irons appear not to be finished strengthening ahead of the deadline as Lopetegui wants Carlos Soler amid talks with PSG [Sky Sports, 19 August].
But high-wage peripheral players will need to be moved on at the same time, with the club also “desperate” to get Danny Ings’ £130,000-a-week deal off the books [talkSPORT, 13 August].
In other West Ham news, the Irons are in advanced talks over signing another attacker on a mandatory loan-to-buy.
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