West Ham have been handed a very timely boost over Nayef Aguerd’s future just as another transfer call demands attention after Burnley made a move.
The summer transfer window is now officially back open all the way until September 1st and it has reopened with some good news for West Ham.
The Hammers are absolutely desperate to make sales so they can ‘start trading’.
Burnley have ambitious American owners and former three-time Hammer of the Year Scott Parker is looking to improve his squad after their return to the Premier League.
West Ham had been heavily linked with moves for Burnley duo Josh Brownhill and CJ Egan-Riley on free transfers.
But the Hammers flatly denied any interest in Brownhill.
Egan-Riley leaves Burnley and West Ham looking at alternatives
And despite a last minute attempt to get him to change his mind, West Ham missed out on Egan-Riley to Marseille.
The Egan-Riley situation is a bitter blow for Burnley and – potentially in more ways than one – for the Irons.
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Because Parker is moving for a top West Ham target to replace him.
PSR is a problem according to the West Ham board, so that puts Graham Potter at a major disadvantage until sales are made.
But with the Hammers reportedly urging a relegated star to reject a move to Burnley, the club’s plans look to have received a huge boost on day one of the full window.
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It has been doom and gloom for West Ham in the window so far.
Burnley are struggling too, though.
Losing Egan-Riley and potentially their captain Brownhill too, there is talk goalkeeper James Trafford will join Newcastle.
Even Parker himself is being linked with other jobs. So Burnley have a lot of work to do if they are to stand a chance of avoiding relegation next season.
The same could be argued of West Ham given the malaise at the club over the last 18 months which has resulted in just 15 wins from their last 57 Premier League games.
Potter wants a new centre-back this summer.
Aguerd boost at perfect time as West Ham tell star to reject Burnley
But he has been waiting for some sales to free up transfer cash.
West Ham are banking on selling the likes of Mohammed Kudus, Nayef Aguerd, Emerson Palmieri, Niclas Fullkrug and a host of others to raise funds.
Ironically Marseille signing Egan-Riley on a free from Burnley dealt the Hammers a major blow as Roberto De Zerbi had been targeting Aguerd.
The error-prone Moroccan is not suited to English football and spent last season on loan at Real Sociedad.
Aguerd has no interest in playing for the Hammers again.
West Ham are hoping to raise around £17-20m by selling him. But with Marseille out of the picture, it leaves Sociedad, Bayer Leverkusen and Atletico Madrid as his alleged remaining suitors.
The good news for West Ham – and bad news for Burnley – is that Erik ten Hag is seriously keen on Aguerd at Leverkusen.
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Wirtz deal gives Ten Hag cash to buy Aguerd from Hammers
And the ex Man United boss now has plenty of cash to get a deal done quickly after Premier League champions Liverpool finally agreed a £116m deal to sign Germany attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz from Leverkusen.
The fee for the 22-year-old includes a guaranteed £100m and a further £16m in add-ons. Those bonus payments would only become payable if the Reds achieve a sustained level of success – which would then make it a British record.
The Wirtz deal is great news for the Hammers’ hopes of offloading Aguerd.
And as a result it could be crucial to landing a top target ahead of Burnley.
West Ham have been lining up Southampton’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis for a summer move ever since Potter arrived in January.
West Ham wait on Aguerd money to sign Harwood-Bellis
It says a lot about former Man City academy graduate Harwood-Bellis that he has earned England call-ups despite playing in a woeful Southampton side who were one of the worst Prem teams in history.
Roy Keane’s son-in-law-to-be is wanted by West Ham and is planning to leave after changing his agent.
It is reported the classy defender would cost around £15 million. So selling Aguerd would pay for that deal.
Just in time too because journalist Alan Nixon has revealed West Ham want Harwood-Bellis to snub a return to the Clarets and wait for them.
Writing on his Patreon, Nixon says West Ham are ‘big fans’ of Harwood-Bellis.
But their limited budget means they would only be able to make a serious move when they sell.
Thankfully Leverkusen are now in a position to give Ten Hag the player he wants at the back – Aguerd.
And that means Harwood-Bellis may not have to hold Burnley off for too long.
A back three of 23-year-old Bellis, Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo with a full pre-season behind him and suddenly West Ham look a lot better in defence.