West Ham have reportedly seen a bid for Rennes defender Nayef Aguerd rejected by the French Ligue 1 club.
This comes despite the Hammers reaching what has been described as a ‘very advanced’ stage in a deal for Fiorentina central defender Nikola Milenkovic.
Irons’ manager David Moyes has been actively attempting to bolster the defensive department at the London Stadium following the exit of Fabian Balbuena at the start of the summer.
According to journalist Ignazio Genuardi, as cited by Sport Witness on Twitter, the pursuit stretches as far as an offer for the 25-year-old Moroccan.
Twitter: Nayef Aguerd | West Ham make €20m offer for player despite being in ‘very advanced contact’ with alternative… https://t.co/5hG2rM2i9K (@Sport_Witness)
The initial report says Rennes will ‘refuse to let go’ of the eight-cap ace despite being in line to bank a healthy profit on their £3.6million expenditure (Transfermarkt).
Last season Aguerd scored three and assisted one goal in 35 league outings – earning an impressive 7.07 average Sofascore rating in the process.
READ WEST HAM VERDICT
Valued at £7.2million and under contract until 2024 in France (Transfermarkt), the mooted £16.9million bid would represent a good deal for all parties.
Clearly unwilling to sanction a departure, without West Ham paying over the odds anyway, perhaps the Irons should settle either for Milenkovic or focus elsewhere.
Should additional options be viewed as essential, with Liverpool willing to accept offers of around £15million for a Premier League proven Nat Phillips, a move there would surely make more sense than another tilt at Aguerd.
