West Ham United raise bid to £25m for Rennes defender Nayef Aguerd
West Ham United have raised their initial offer to £25m to seal the deal to sign Rennes defender Nayef Aguerd this summer, according to Daily Mail [June 1].
The Hammers have long been linked with a move for the Moroccan international, who the Mail claim has been admired by boss David Moyes for a while.
But after initial reports of a £13m move being close to done [Evening Standard], it now seems a deal isn’t imminent and the east London club have been forced to raise their bid.
A £25m fee is now close to being agreed with the Ligue 1 outfit and West Ham are ‘closing’ on a deal for the 26-year-old central defender.
Aguerd played 40 times for Rennes last season and was an ever-present for Morocco during the African Cup of Nations at the start of the year as they were eliminated by Egypt in the quarter-finals.
Close
There is a feeling of inevitability about this deal getting done now and it seems that Aguerd is the priority target for the position for Moyes.
There has been some claims that the player has already flown into London and taken pictures with the club’s new kit, such is the confidence of a deal being completed by both parties.
But until there is pen put to paper a deal isn’t done and there should be some cautious optimism surrounding the transfer currently.
Moyes however is confident that Aguerd is the man to bolster the defence, and the report suggests that Issa Diop could be allowed to leave if he comes in.
That would leave the Hammers with Aguerd, Kurt Zouma, Craig Dawson and Angelo Ogbonna as senior centre-back options for the new season and that is a positive to get the business done early ahead of what will be a busy campaign.
In other West Ham news, Fabrizio Romano shares fresh update on West Ham target, player wants move
Be sure to follow West Ham Zone on Facebook for 24/7 updates on the Hammers plus more exclusive interviews with Frank McAvennie.