Potter charm offensive required to re-integrate this Hammers’ reject. Nayef Aguerd, for any West Ham fans who have been on a round the world break with no internet or news access since last August, is the West Ham centre-back who was sent away from the club on loan by Lopetegui on deadline day in August 2024.
Aguerd had been trying to leave for months under previous Manager David Moyes, anecdotally, changing his own Sports Management company to try and get a move to Dubai.
One the one hand, we hear West Ham’s Graham Potter now wants to bring the Moroccan back – West Ham’s insiders claim ‘Potter rates him’ as centre back and sees him integrated as the ‘third man’ in his new-look back line, for zero outlay after his season-long loan ends in June
Still ‘having a party’ on less than £2k a month
On the other hand, the player himself who walked away from West Ham last August with a heartfelt social media post that left no room for coming back: Clearly at that time Aguerd made it clear he did not want to stay a Premier League player and is said to be happy in Spain .
And on the third (eh?) hand, Real Sociedad, his loan club, who love the player who has given them a superb defensive record this season but accept that he is unlikely to be with them after this season as ‘West Ham want him back’ .
Something has to give – Manchester United’s covetous eyes cast on Aguerd before the Europa League game may turn into a formal offer but otherwise – does Graham Potter want to haul back a defender who clearly didn’t want to be here
Either a massive Potter charm offensive will be required to re-integrate Aguerd this summer or – the answer is probably a sale to one of Sociedad’s rivals in Spain’s La Liga if Aguerd is still set against a Premier League return. The only thing that is certain is that the current loan deal will end: West Ham are subsidising the bulk of Aguerd’s wages which makes no sense financially.
But this one could have many twists and turns between now and August deadline day.
