Julien Laurens has revealed on the Transfer Talk podcast what Nayef Aguerd will bring to West Ham United.
The Hammers appeared to be closing in on a deal to bring Ligue 1 ace Aguerd to the London Stadium this summer with the defender set to be their first signing of the window, however, late interest from Newcastle United has seemingly thrown a spanner in the works.
It had previously been reported that Aguerd would be joining West Ham for a fee just above £20m and would add some much-needed youth to the heart of the Hammers’ defence as he learns his trade in England alongside experienced players such as Kurt Zouma and Craig Dawson.
Laurens has revealed what West Ham fans can expect from Aguerd if he does indeed join after watching him in Ligue 1.
Speaking on Wednesday, he said: “I think it’s a great signing, 1) because he’s a left-footer, which are really rare in that position, but he’s not just a left foot, he has a really, really sweet left foot, and he has that technical ability for a centre-back that is quite rare.
Will West Ham manage to sign Aguerd?
Yes!
No!
“And then he’s just tall and quick and reads the game well and a threat on set pieces because he’s scored goals this season on set pieces offensively – and we know how good West Ham are on set pieces defensively, offensively. So he’s going to be another weapon in that armour already on top of all the others.”
TIF Thoughts on Aguerd…
As Laurens mentioned, West Ham were a big threat from set pieces last season as they managed to score 14 times from dead-ball situations, so adding someone such as Aguerd, who netted four times last term, will only help them get better in that department.
At 26, Aguerd will be someone who could be a long-term centre-back partner for Zouma and naturally take the place of 34-year-old Angelo Ogbonna – or indeed Issa Diop, who has been tipped with a move away this summer.