Nayef Aguerd wanted for West Ham United exit to join N’Golo Kante after Kurt Zouma deal agreed
Al-Ittihad are interested in signing Nayef Aguerd from West Ham before the end of the transfer window, according to Dharmesh Sheth.
The Sky Sports journalist reported via X on 26 August that the centre-back is wanted by the Saudi Pro League side, just as defensive partner Kurt Zouma is on the way to fellow Saudi club Al Orobah after his move to Shabab Al-Ahli in UAE collapsed over a failed medical.
Aguerd wanted in the Saudi Pro League last summer and has already rejected a loan-to-buy exit to the Bundesliga [Guardian, 26 August].
The Irons attempted to do a deal with Al-Ittihad for N’Golo Kanté earlier this summer while former Real Madrid star Karim Benzema is their most high-profile player.
Nayef Aguerd could now follow Kurt Zouma out of West Ham to Saudi Pro League
Aguerd and Zouma have both lost their places as regular Irons starters since the managerial switch from David Moyes to Julen Lopetegui.
Tim Steidten has been aggressive in strengthening the Hammers squad this summer and needs to make space to continue with the signing of Carlos Soler from PSG [The Times, 26 August].
Having signed both Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo this summer it is going to be unsustainable to keep to senior defenders on the books on high wages who aren’t playing regularly, so moves for Aguerd and Zouma looks the best option all round.
Both have been heavily linked to the Saudi Pro League for some time [HITC, 25 March] and it looks like that may now be where they both end up.
Zouma has been left in “limbo” in Dubai for days after his failed medical at Shabab Al-Ahli [Sheth, 19 August] so the hope will be that there are no similar complications with this prospective move.
And just two years after signing Aguerd for around £30million [Sky Sports] the Hammers will surely be looking for a decent fee in return to pack the Moroccan off in the same direction.
In other West Ham news, more offers are on the way for a new Hammers cult favourite to leave before the deadline.
For more West Ham news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.