West Ham boss Graham Potter may have just revealed his thinking on Nayef Aguerd’s future at the club amid fresh speculation.
A moment in an official behind-the-scenes West Ham video has dropped a big clue as rumours swirl over what is next for the Moroccan centre-back.
When West Ham were planning their summer sales to raise funds for Graham Potter to make signings, Nayef Aguerd was right near the top of the list.
The Hammers have offloaded Mohammed Kudus to Spurs for £54.5m.
But more money will be needed if Potter is to be able to continue his West Ham rebuild following the signings of fullbacks El Hadji Malick Diouf and Kyle Walker-Peters.
Potter still wants a goalkeeper, at least two new midfielders and a centre-back.
West Ham’s owners are also keen to sign at least one striker too.
Hammers have been banking on Aguerd sale
One of the reasons the Hammers want a new centre-back is because Aguerd was expected to be one of the first out of the West Ham exit door this summer transfer window.
After a relatively successful season-long loan spell at Real Sociedad, the Spaniards were tipped to make it permanent.
However, despite being flush with cash from players sales, Sociedad have elected not to push to keep the £30m Hammers flop.
A number of other clubs, including Bayer Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid, Roma, Juventus, Marseille and even Real Madrid have also been linked with Aguerd this summer.
Reports also emerged earlier this month claiming Sunderland will make a bid to West Ham for Aguerd.
Although it was revealed Aguerd would not be open to that move as he ‘just doesn’t want to be in England’.
But in reality offers have been thin on the ground and selling the former Rennes man, who turns 30 next season, is proving difficult.
The Hammers parted with what was a club record fee for a defender at the time to sign Rob Newman target Aguerd.
But he struggled to adapt to the pace and physicality of the Premier League, hence West Ham’s decision to loan him out to La Liga last season.
Aguerd formed a partnership that was partly responsible for West Ham shipping their Premier League record worst 74 goals the season before last.
Now Potter appears to have dropped a major hint on the future of West Ham misfit Aguerd in a behind-the-scenes club video.
Potter drops major hint on future of West Ham misfit Aguerd
There have been claims since Potter took over at the London Stadium in January that he wanted to reintegrate the defender into the squad.
Hammers News was the first to reveal Aguerd had no intention of returning to play for West Ham again.
It was confirmed by top club sources recently that Aguerd requested not to return to training with West Ham for pre-season, so as not to risk an injury which could jeopardise a move.
But no club has been forthcoming with the £15-18m West Ham would accept.
As a result Aguerd has indeed been training with the Hammers in pre-season, playing in the win over Grasshoppers.
In his time away, Aguerd has become a better player in the minds of many West Ham fans.
His performance against Grasshoppers showed the same old limitations in his play, though.
If West Ham are going to sell Aguerd, this summer is the time to do it because he will enter the last 12 months of his contract when the season is over.
There have been claims West Ham could be forced to shelve plans for a new centre-back signing if Aguerd can’t be moved on.
The Hammers have been linked with the likes of Albian Hajdari and Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
If Potter’s actions in a club video are anything to go by, though, Aguerd will be staying at West Ham.
After signing Senegal star Diouf, West Ham published footage from his first day at the club on their YouTube channel.
It showed Diouf joining up with his teammates at their German training camp and meeting the squad and staff.
Potter assigns Aguerd to look after new boy Diouf
Diouf speaks very good English.
But it is very telling that the 20-year-old was seated next to fellow French speaker Nayef Aguerd.
The Hammers centre-back greets Diouf warmly in French, giving him a big hug and welcoming him to the fold.
Diouf then takes a seat next to Aguerd before Potter walks over to the pair.
The Hammers boss greets Diouf with a handshake and a hug, saying: “Are you ok, welcome.”
Potter then puts his hand on Aguerd’s shoulder and tells Diouf: “He will look after you.”
Clearly if West Ham receive a bid to their liking for Aguerd, he could well be sold.
Many feel that would be for the best as some fans have not forgotten the £30m man crying off sick in the lead up to the African Nations before recovering in time to fly, train and play for Morocco.
Many more have not forgotten his weak, error-prone displays in the toughest league in the world either.
But the manager would not assign someone Aguerd to look after Diouf if he felt he would be leaving anytime soon.
Diouf and Aguerd would also be playing alongside one another – as they did against Grasshoppers – so there may be more to it than simply babysitting duties.
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