West Ham centre-back pairing Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma could be sold this summer in a “defensive shake-up”, according to the Sunday Express.
The tabloid reports that the Hammers have already given Aguerd the “green light” to leave the London Stadium
Aguerd has struggled for consistency since moving from Rennes for £30m in the summer of 2022, and the Moroccan will be let go by the club if they can find a suitor.
Rennes are said to be keen on re-signing their former player, but they are unlikely to meet the centre-back’s asking price.
The Express claim that Lyon and Saudi Pro League teams are also pursuing Aguerd, so there is considerable interest in the 28-year-old.
What is the situation with Zouma?
While West Ham haven’t explicitly told their captain that he is up for sale, it is widely believed that he will be offloaded if a team does make an approach before the summer transfer window closes.
The main reason for that is because Zouma only has 12 months left on his contract. The Frenchman is the club’s joint second-highest earner on £125,000 a week; a salary he has been on since he arrived from Chelsea in 2021.
Considering Zouma has been carrying a chronic knee injury and the fact that he will turn 30 later this year, handing him a new deal is not deemed prudent.
Have West Ham lined up replacements for the pair?
The Irons were keen on recruiting Fabricio Bruno from Flamengo but that deal is believed to have collapsed. Manager Julen Lopetegui would like to sign one of his former players, Wolves’ Max Kilman, but his asking price is reportedly between £40m and £45m.
It means the club may look elsewhere to reinforce their options at the back, with Hull City’s Jacob Greaves thought to be a leading candidate.
