West Ham United in transfer talks with Atletico Madrid over deal for Nayef Aguerd
Atletico Madrid have opened talks with West Ham over a deal to sign Nayef Aguerd, according to Foot Mercato.
A report on the French outlet’s website on 21 July indicated the Spanish giants want a loan-to-buy deal with only an option to make the move permanent.
But the Irons want to sell the Moroccan outright or attach an obligation to sign him at the end of a loan move and want €20million in the deal [£16.86m].
Both Aguerd and Kurt Zouma could leave this summer as the Hammers have bought Max Kilman from Wolves and have been pursuing Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo [Sky Sports, 5 July].
Nayef Aguerd could leave after Max Kilman arrival at West Ham
Selling Aguerd certainly appears to be necessary to help facilitate further incoming deals so it is a positive that a club has come forward to enter talks.
After signing him from Rennes for £30million two years ago [Sky Sports] it is a significant drop in value if the Irons are now prepared to let him go for around half that amount.
But that may be better than having him stuck in the squad at the London Stadium and filling up space on the wage bill if both sides are ready to move on.
Julen Lopetegui’s arrival has only increased the need for a revamp of a squad that had grown tired under David Moyes so more ins and outs than have already been seen are surely required.
Zouma’s knees appear to be unable to hold up to the rigours of regular Premier League football now so finding a taker in a league where the pace is more suitable would surely benefit the Frenchman too, amid interest from Saudi Arabia [HITC, 25 March].
Todibo may be out of reach despite a deal being agreed with his club as he appears to be set on moving to Juventus [The Times, 21 July] so the likes of Jake O’Brien at Lyon could still be on the cards instead [Dharmesh Sheth, 5 July].
In other West Ham news, David Sullivan is expected to push for a deal to make the best Irons signing for over a decade this summer.
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