Former Man City star Aymeric Laporte may have just unlocked West Ham’s £32m deal

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While most reports suggest West Ham United plan to sell before they buy this summer, the Premier League outfit do at least have a few valuable assets to potentially cash in on.

West Ham may look to cut their losses on Lucas Paqueta regardless of the outcome of that long-running spot-fixing trial. Three as-yet unnamed clubs are reportedly targeting the Brazil international.

Chelsea are the latest club in for Mohammed Kudus. Former Ajax ace Kudus has an £85 million release clause in his contract specifically for rival Premier League clubs.

Of course, West Ham United would rather not lose Kudus. But, after scoring only five goals and setting up three more in England’s top-flight last term, this is obviously a far more preferable option than selling captain Jarrod Bowen.

Furthermore, with interest emerging from clubs in Spain, France and Germany, the likely departure of Nayef Aguerd could be the key which unlocks West Ham’s summer.

Marseille make their move for West Ham United misfit Nayef Aguerd

According to Claret and Hugh, West Ham hope to recoup much of the £32 million they spent bringing Aguerd to the London Stadium from Stade Rennes back in 2022.

Atletico Madrid could look to keep Aguerd in Spain after Real Sociedad decided against pursuing a permanent deal for the Morocco international. He impressed on loan in San Sebastien but injuries limited the centre-back’s involvement in the spring.

Over in Germany, Erik ten Hag may bring Aguerd to Bayer Leverkusen as one of his first acts in the post-Xabi Alonso era. Leverkusen are in the market for a central defender after Jonathan Tah completed his switch to Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich last week.

Marseille, however, appear to have made the first move.

Roberto de Zerbi’s Ligue 1 runners-up are looking to add Aguerd to their growing collection of former Premier League regulars. A collection which already includes Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Neal Maupay and Mason Greenwood.

And, after Marseille agreed a deal for ex-Manchester United starlet Angel Gomes on Friday, Foot Mercato reports that L’OM have now ‘accelerated the process’ to bring Aguerd back to the nation where he made his name with Rennes and Dijon.

Former Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte sees France move through

Marseille are in contact with Aguerd, looking to wrap up deals for two leading summer targets in double-quick time.

Aguerd, part of the Morocco side which reached the semi-finals of the Qatar World Cup, is far from the only central defender on Marseille’s wishlist. Foot Mercato report that Franco Medina – a massive part of RC Lens’ success in recent years – is another.

However, with a deal for Aymeric Laporte ‘practically dead’ at this stage, Aguerd appears to be the one Marseille are ‘accelerating’ their pursuit of.

Laporte, a five-time Premier League champion with Manchester City and a Euro 2024 winner with Spain, has been playing over in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr for the last two years.

Interestingly, the identity of Marseille’s sporting director may be the decisive factor in Aguerd’s potential switch to the Stade Velodrome. Former Roma and Bayern Munich defender Mehdi Benatia played alongside Aguerd for Morocco until his international retirement in 2019, after all.