In an ideal world, cash-strapped Premier League outfit West Ham United would much rather lose Nayef Aguerd than, say, a Tomas Soucek or a Mohammed Kudus.
But when have things ever been easy for the Hammers?
With West Ham looking to raise funds before they bring new signings to the London Stadium, there is an acceptance that the likes of Soucek or Kudus will have to be sacrificed for the so-called ‘greater good’.
Leeds and Everton have discussed Tomas Soucek, Hammers News understands.
And while Graham Potter turned his nose up at Jadon Sancho – Chelsea offered a host of players as part of a potential exchange deal with Ghana international Mohammed Kudus – an £80 million release clause available to rival Premier League clubs makes him the most expensive, if potentially irreplaceable, member of the West Ham United roster.
Of course, finding a permanent home for Nayef Aguerd would ease the pressure to cash in on a more prominent member of the squad. That, however, is proving far easier said than done.
Nayef Aguerd in action during Bayer 04 Leverkusen v West Ham United FC: Quarter-Final First Leg - UEFA Europa League 2023/24
Photo by Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty Images
West Ham United hope to sell Nayef Aguerd but Bayer Leverkusen and Real Sociedad move away
Erik ten Hag’s Bayer Leverkusen are fans of Morocco international Aguerd. But with Sky Sports now claiming that the 2024 Bundesliga champions are in ‘active talks’ with Liverpool over Jarell Quansah, West Ham’s £30 million misfit is clearly not the priority.
Marseille delivered a swift one-two to Graham Potter’s midriff, meanwhile, despite initially positive claims suggesting that the French giants were stepping up that Nayef Aguerd pursuit.
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Not only have Marseille beaten West Ham to CJ Egan-Riley – the former Burnley defender crosses the Channel as a free agent despite talks over a switch to the London Stadium – they also appear to have cooled their interest in Aguerd as a result.
𝐂𝐉 𝐄𝐠𝐚𝐧-𝐑𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐎𝐥𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐧 ! 🔵⚪️
Le défenseur central 🏴 rejoint l’OM libre de tout contrat après son passage à Burnley FC. Il arrivera à Marseille à la suite de l’EURO U21 qu’il dispute actuellement avec les Young Lions ✍️ pic.twitter.com/nPvIg4NLH1
— Olympique de Marseille (@OM_Officiel) June 14, 2025
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Now, Real Sociedad have already performed one U-turn on a defender who spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan in San Sebastian. The La Liga outfit initially decided against keeping Aguerd at Anoeta. Then, they appeared to change their mind.
But with Diario AS claiming that La Real have done a Leverkusen and shifted their focus onto another central-defensive target, it appears that Imanol Alguacil’s side have gone full 360.
From snubbing Aguerd to targeting Aguerd, all the way back to snubbing him again.
La Liga outfit turn to Brighton and Hove Albion defender Igor
Real Sociedad are leading the pack, ahead of a host of Spanish top-flight rivals, for the signature of £15 million Brighton and Hove Albion defender Igor.
AS report that Igor, who joined Brighton last summer from Fiorentina, is eager to swap one blue and white-striped shirt for another. Furthermore, the plan at the Anoeta is to bring Igor to the Basque country to fill a void created by Aguerd’s departure.
Back in May, four clubs appeared to have positioned themselves as a potential solution to West Ham United’s Nayef Aguerd problem. Bayer Leverkusen, Marseille, Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid.
Three weeks later, Atletico feel like the only one still realistically in the picture. And even they are reportedly turning to Eintracht Frankfurt’s ponytailed powerhouse Arthur Theate.
“Sadly, we have minimal ammunition to play with,” a spokesman for West Ham’s owners told Hammers News at the start of the summer, explaining why incomings early in the window were always unlikely.
“We’re now trying to get a few players out so we can start trading.”
Unfortunately, while Kudus and Soucek are the subject of enquiries from Premier League rivals – deals West Ham would rather not do but may be forced to accept – Nayef Aguerd is hurtling all the way back to square one.