Rennes president Nicolas Holveck has ruled out selling Nayef Aguerd to West Ham United, after the Premier League outfit held talks with the talented centre-back, while speaking to RMC Sport.
While Holveck was less convincing about the future of Eduardo Camavinga, admitting that perhaps the most coveted teenager in Ligue 1 may be sold before the September transfer deadline, the France international would at least be the only high-profile departure from a side who finished sixth last season.
Moroccan publication Sport360 reported a few weeks ago that West Ham had opened talks with the agent of 25-year-old Aguerd.
The 6ft 2ins centre-back joined Rennes from Dijon in a bargain £4 million move last summer and the Brittany-based outfit are not looking to cash in so soon, even if a switch to the Premier League would see Les Rouge et Noir make a sizeable profit on a player who has exceeded expectations at Roazhon Park.
Will Rennes block Nayef Aguerd’s West Ham move?
“We are not obliged to sell,” Holveck said after being quizzed about the immediate future of his star centre-back.
“The players who are part of the squad that (coach) Bruno (Genesio) has chosen will remain in Rennes.”
Former Lyon boss Genesio said himself last week that he was planing for life with Aguerd as he begins his first full season in the hot seat.
“For me, they (Aguerd and midfielder Benjamin Bourigeaud) will be in Rennes on August 31,” the manager told Ouest France.
“Neither of them told me anything. They are two important players and they will remain in Rennes.”
After losing Fabian Balbuena on a free transfer, West Ham boss David Moyes is looking to add one more centre-back to his squad with Nikola Milenkovic, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Joe Worrall among those linked.
There are doubts about the future of Issa Diop too, with a number of rival Premier League clubs looking at the £23 million Frenchman.
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