The Hammers struggled last season with reports of ‘want away’ players- at one stage there were rumours of [Lopetegu](https://www.claretandhugh.info/lopeteguis-surprise-bid-for-new-job-is-good-news-for-west-ham/)i’s ham-fisted management creating a group of at least four who were planning to leave the club – Fullkrug, Alvarez, Kudus, Todibo – during the Spaniard’s torrid time.
Graham Potter managed to restore squad unity with sweetness and light descending upon the players for the second half of the season. However he’s just received a kick in the pants from one player who refuses to return after publicly Potter had stated he wanted to work with him
Manchester City’s supremo Pep Guardiola was famously reported as saying _that if a player wants to leave he should go,_ as in the case of [Kalvin Phillips:](https://www.manchestercity.news/do-it-pep-guardiola-says-generous-player-can-leave-manchester-city-if-he-wants/) Potter could do with taking a leaf out of Guardiola’s book instead of trying to entice Nayef Aguerd to return to London.
The Moroccan has publicly shunned a return to West Ham, putting the Hammers board in a situation where they need to sell him. All well and good for the club finances-but rather than the tug of war playing out in public with Potter’s authority taking a hit, It may be better for the Hammers manager to take a leaf out of Guardiola’s book next time and decide that if a player doesn’t buy into the team, hold out a p45 instead of an olive branch.
It’ll do wonders for the respect from other players and build better morale at the club.