West Ham United should look to move on Nayef Aguerd after his terrible performance on the opening day of the 2025/26 campaign.
The 2024/25 season was a disappointing one for West Ham. Though he was heavily backed financially, Julen Lopetegui struggled to make things click at the London Stadium, being sacked just six months after joining the club to replace David Moyes. In his place, the Hammers appointed Graham Potter, formerly of Chelsea and Brighton.
Potter’s impact, at least immediately, was minimal. He made just one addition that winter, the loan signing of Evan Ferguson, as West Ham finished the season in mid-table, never threatening to overstep that boundary. Potter has now had a summer and pre-season, however, to implement his ideas.
Not including Jean-Clair Todibo, who was signed initially on loan last season, West Ham have made four additions to their squad. Kyle Walker-Peters and Callum Wilson have joined the club for free and the Hammers have spent almost £40 million combined on left-back El Hadji Malick Diouf and goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, with West Ham expected to try and sign more players.
The Hammers started their season at the Stadium of Light, facing a Sunderland side who were returning to the Premier League after almost a decade away from the top flight. It was a delightful start to the term for the Black Cats, who stormed to a 3-0 win against an established Premier League side.
After just one game, it is clear that Potter needs to move on from one particular player if he hopes to see a swift improvement.
Aguerd Needs to Be Sold
Nayef Aguerd
After a rocky opening 15 minutes or so, West Ham grew into the game against Sunderland. Diouf was denied a debut goal only by a goal-line block from Dan Ballard as the hosts seemed to struggle with West Ham’s increasing pressure. Following the half-time break, though, Sunderland started to play with more confidence.
Forward Eliezer Mayenda opened the scoring just after the hour mark, a thundering header from Ballard just minutes later doubling their advantage. Wilson Isidor scored a third off the bench to wrap up a brilliant day for Sunderland as Hermansen had a debut he will hope to soon forget.
In front of Hermansen, Aguerd was playing his first West Ham game in about a year, having spent last season on loan at Real Sociedad. The Moroccan international, who Football Insider rated 3/10 for his display, struggled massively against Sunderland, never looking comfortable on the ball and being unable to contend with Mayenda’s movement. As Football Insider put it, Aguerd had a "shocker."
It was Aguerd that Mayenda beat for the first goal of the game and the 29-year-old, unfortunately for Hammers fans, did very little of note. It has long been clear that West Ham were looking to offload Aguerd for not fitting into Potter's side, something that appears true based on his showing against the Black Cats.
Potter would never compromise his style of play to accommodate one player, meaning Aguerd's future may well not be with the Hammers as, should he continue to play in such form, it could end up costing Potter his job.
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