West Ham were closing in on Nayef Aguerd but now fear that Newcastle United are ready to swoop in and hijack their deal.
The Hammers are chasing a left-footed centre back this summer but that was always going to come with some risk.
Angelo Ogbonna is 34 and coming off a major injury, but finding a quality left-footed centre back isn’t easy – and when they emerge, many clubs want them.
The modern game has placed a growing emphasis on left-footed centre backs and West Ham appear to want one.
Aguerd has become their top target for that role but there could be a late twist in the tale.
West Ham were closing in on Nayef Aguerd
Aguerd has been on the West Ham radar for a long time now and it finally looked like a deal was drawing closer.
90Min reported earlier this week that Aguerd was heading to London for a medical with West Ham.
The deal with Rennes was believed to be worth around £30million, seemingly bringing an end to a year-long chase.
Yet there are now rising fears that Newcastle United are making a move of their own.
After all, Newcastle have been chasing another left-footed Ligue 1 centre back in Sven Botman and could go for a clear alternative in Aguerd.
The Daily Star claim that West Ham fear Newcastle are trying to hijack the deal for Aguerd.
It’s claimed that late interest from Newcastle has thrown a real spanner in the works for West Ham and Aguerd hasn’t yet decided who to join.
Aguerd is already in London but is now left to wonder whether he would be better off making the move to Tyneside this summer.
This is a nightmare for West Ham after chasing Aguerd for so long but Newcastle’s spending power under PIF means they can pose a major threat to any Premier League deal.
Moyes will hope that the work will pay off and Aguerd will join West Ham but they now face an anxious wait.
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