A Hammers star may have had a change of heart about staying at West Ham after sending a post on social media.
There are a number of players West Ham are actively hoping to sell this summer to raise transfer funds.
Striker Danny Ings is one of them while captain Kurt Zouma and fellow central defender Nayef Aguerd are also being advertised for sale to other clubs.
The future also looks uncertain for Flynn Downes and Maxwell Cornet.
Especially as West Ham plan to make another five signings before the summer window closes.
New head coach is planning a defensive overhaul after inheriting a backline that contributed towards conceding 74 goals last season – an unwelcome new Premier League club record for West Ham.
The Hammers have already signed centre-back Max Kilman for £40m.
And sights have been set on signing a second centre-back as well as a new full-back.
The likes of Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo and Lyon’s Jake O’Brien have been linked with moves to the London Stadium.
But West Ham must first raise funds through sales before bringing in a second centre-back.
It has seemed pretty clear for some time now that Aguerd wants out of West Ham.
Hammers actively looking to sell some players
The Moroccan started last season in the same kind of inconsistent, error-prone form that has been an unwelcome feature of his time at West Ham.
David Moyes spoke out publicly at the time, stating that the £30m signing’s performances must improve.
Midway through last term it looked likely Aguerd had played his last game for West Ham.
The 28-year-old made himself unavailable for the Hammers due to illness over the festive period.
But he jetted off to meet up with the Morocco squad for AFCON where his error dumped the Atlas Lions out of the tournament.
On his return to West Ham, Aguerd found himself on the bench for much of the second half of the campaign.
He has been linked with moves to France with former club Rennes as well as Lyon. West Ham even reportedly offered him to Nice in their discussions over Todibo.
Atletico Madrid Saudi clubs have also been linked with the West Ham outcast.
Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Aguerd may have had change of heart about staying at West Ham
Last month it was revealed Aguerd has changed agents to help force a move away from West Ham.
But there have also been conflicting rumours Julen Lopetegui could be open to keeping Aguerd.
Now the star may have had a change of heart about staying at West Ham after a post on social media.
Aguerd has appeared happy enough in video footage on social media since his return to pre-season training under new coach Lopetegui.
Now he has taken to X with his first West Ham related post since February.
Aguerd posted three pictures of him hard at work in West Ham training during the club’s pre-season camp in Austria.
He looks focused in the pictures as Lopetegui and his staff put the players through their paces.
“Back to business,” Aguerd said alongside – perhaps most tellingly – a crossed Hammers emoji.
If Aguerd was desperate to leave West Ham then why would he put up a post like that?
Without wanting to play Sherlock Holmes, the addition of the crossed Hammers also suggests he might be trying to endear himself to fans once more.
Perhaps it is now looking likely clubs interested in him aren’t going to cough up the money West Ham want.
And is it any wonder?
It was recently claimed the Hammers want £38m to sell Aguerd.
Does rare Hammers-related social post suggest Aguerd stays?
Aguerd has done little during his time at West Ham to justify his original £30m fee.
So adding another £8m on top seems wishful thinking at best.
Could a case be made for Lopetegui keeping Aguerd and getting the best out of him?
Reports from Wolves suggest Kilman needs to be paired with a vocal and dominant defensive partner. Aguerd has a wonderful left foot, but he certainly does not fit that description.
He has proved to be weak and slow off the mark in Premier League. The odd good game in five or six means he has struggled to cut it at West Ham.
Lopetegui is looking to play out along the floor from the back.
But Aguerd has often looked a bag of nerves in possession and has been at fault for far too many goals.
Hammers fans have also accused him of lacking bravery in a position where that’s quite simply a non-negotiable in the English game.
It will be interesting to see what happens from here with Aguerd.
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