Manuel Akanji and Graham Potter applauding in the circle
Credit: Imago
Henry Green
Mon 1 September 2025 10:05, UK
West Ham are having a whirlwind of a transfer deadline day as they look to sign a new defender.
Charlie Cresswell has been linked to West Ham from Toulouse, with the former Leeds defender available for transfer.
Igor Julio could also make a switch from Brighton, as the Hammers look to cover all bases.
Graham Potter’s hunt for a defender is reminiscent of West Ham’s seven bids they launched for midfielders last week, with more Manuel Akanji being added to the list.
Graham Potter looks curiously in the West Ham dugout.
Credit: Imago
West Ham target Manuel Akanji as Nayef Aguerd closes in on exit
Nayef Aguerd’s £19.9million move from West Ham to Marseille is all but confirmed, and the search for a replacement has begun.
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Without the Moroccan, Potter kept his first clean sheet of the season with West Ham’s 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest.
Max Kilman and Konstantinos Mavropanos were solid at the back, but the Irons still need depth in defence.
According to The Sun, Aguerd is now travelling to Marseille, and loan deals for Chelsea’s Axel Disasi and Manchester City’s Manuel Akanji are being explored.
In 26 Premier League appearances last season, Akanji recorded 5 clean sheets
The 30-year-old also managed 30 clean sheets in 119 Bundesliga appearances for Dortmund before joining City in 2022
Southampton’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis is also one of a cluster of centre-backs being considered.
Akanji had been linked with moves to Galatasaray and AC Milan in recent weeks, with Pep Guardiola keen to offload the defender.
However, the Switzerland international reportedly prefers a switch to a Premier League side.
A move for Akanji would be ambitious for the Hammers, but could prove expensive.
Nayef Aguerd at West Ham
Credit: Imago
Manuel Akanji could prove expensive
Although Akanji would only be joining on loan, he would still be expensive.
He is on a reported £180,000 a week at Man City, and the Citizens would likely expect his full salary to be covered for the season.
That would equate to around £9million, which would be costly should he fail to perform in East London.
West Ham must weigh up whether it is worth them spending so much on a loan signing, when that money could go on the permanent additions of Cresswell or Igor.
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