West Ham United are in advanced talks to bring Nayef Aguerd to the Premier League but Rennes could hold out for a fee of £34 million, according to Get France Football News.
After years of scrimping and saving, making do and mending, Davids Gold and Sullivan appear determined to prove that they have the appetite – and the financial muscle – to take an upwardly-mobile Hammers side to the next level.
Since the turn of the year, big-money bids have been launched for the likes of Raphinha, Kalvin Phillips and Darwin Nunez. And while none succeeded, the implication is that West Ham are shopping in an entirely different market place these days; Swapping the freezer aisle at Lidl to Waitrose’s sourdough and soy milk.
Whether West Ham are willing to spend over £30 million on Aguerd, however, remains to be seen. He is not quite in the same class as Raphinha or Nunez – at least not yet anyway – but the muscular Moroccon does appear to have replaced the likes of James Tarkowski and Benoit Badiashile as the club’s number one central defensive target.
West Ham United close in on Rennes’ Nayef Aguerd
The Guardian claim that West Ham are ‘close’ to sealing a deal for Aguerd.
They are offering £29 million up front but, according to reports from across the Channel, it may take another £5 million to twist Rennes’ arm; A fee that would make the former Dijon man their third-most expensive signing ever, after Felipe Anderson and Sebastien Haller.
26-year-old Aguerd, a 6ft 3ins giant of a man renowned for his aerial prowess and his excellent passing range, was the subject of a £17 million bid from the Hammers last summer before signing a new contract at Rennes.
“I told myself I still had a year left to prove myself,” Aguerd explained.
“When you’re a player, and you’re under contract, it’s the club that chooses (whether you stay or go). They didn’t want me to leave, even if I had offers.
“They chose to extend (my contract) by showing me that I was important to the club, in the dressing room. I signed immediately and showed that I was part of the project.”
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