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Tag: Nayef Aguerd

  • Jurgen Klopp is considering local options in order to replace Joel Matip at Liverpool

    Jurgen Klopp is considering local options in order to replace Joel Matip at Liverpool

    Nayef Aguerd

    Since joining West Ham on a high-profile transfer from Rennes last summer, Nayef Aguerd has excelled, and Liverpool and Manchester City are taking notice of his performance.

    Nayef Aguerd of West Ham is being watched by Liverpool as they consider a possible summer transfer.

    Joel Matip’s contract expires next summer, so Jurgen Klopp will soon be planning a defensive rebuild, and he appears destined to be the first to leave.
    The Reds overhauled their midfield over the summer, and a similar pattern might be seen at the back in 2024.

    As Klopp looks to improve his defensive options at the end of the season, The Sun reports that Liverpool is considering a move for Hammers center-back Aguerd. The 27-year-old, who cost £30 million to bring from Rennes to the London Stadium last summer, is also attracting interest from Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

    Aguerd has played in three Premier League games so far this year, but he was unavailable for his team’s 3-1 victory at Brighton after scoring and receiving a red card in West Ham’s 3-1 victory over Chelsea.

    Prior to the international break, he was back in the lineup against Luton, and he performed well as the Hammers defeated them 2-1.

    But as West Ham ultimately won the competition, it was his performance in the Europa Conference League last year that stood out.

    Nayef Aguerd

    Aguerd played a crucial part in helping Morocco advance to the World Cup semifinals after missing until November because of an ankle injury. Aguerd made a successful recovery just before the tournament.

    Aguerd started all four of Morocco’s opening contests, including the victory over Spain on penalties.

    However, due to a thigh injury, he was sidelined for the quarterfinal victory over France. Aguerd was a constant in the starting lineup for West Ham in the second half of the season after his return.

    The former Rennes defender started 17 more Premier League games and took part in five of West Ham’s six European games on the way to the Conference League championship in 2023.
    The Hammers won their first major trophy in 43 years when Aguerd started against Fiorentina in Prague.

    Although Aguerd recently told his representatives that he was content at West Ham, his impressive form has since raised the ire of both Liverpool and Man City. This came after Aguerd received offers this summer from two unidentified European suitors as well as a Saudi Pro League club.

    Al-Ittihad, a latecomer to the Aguerd market, expressed interest but did not make a bid.
    Although it is unknown if Liverpool or City are willing to make a bid for Aguerd, if he keeps up his strong play for the Hammers in the Premier League and in Europe, there will undoubtedly be interest in him.

     

  • Liverpool make £60m-rated West Ham star their top January target with Klopp to axe seven-season veteran

    Liverpool make £60m-rated West Ham star their top January target with Klopp to axe seven-season veteran

    Nayef Aguerd

    Liverpool is said to be planning to sign West Ham star Nayef Aguerd in the January transfer window and believes they can beat Manchester City to his signature by letting go of a well-liked long-serving star in the process.

    After saying goodbye to six stars since the end of the previous season, the Reds spent the summer re-building their midfield. And while the departures of James Milner, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and the ineffective Arthur Melo were anticipated for some time, the sales of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson were much more unexpected.

    As a result, Jurgen Klopp had to make four additions to his squad to strengthen Liverpool’s engine room, with Ryan Gravenberch becoming the final addition on deadline day.

    The goal for the Netherlands international will be to make his Liverpool debut against Wolves this Saturday. Klopp must now decide how to best accommodate the Dutchman alongside fellow newcomers Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, and Waturu Endo.

    It’s definitely a good problem to have, and Liverpool finally has a large pool of young players from which to choose in their midfield against struggling Wolves.

    It is simple to overlook the fact that Klopp actually sought to bolster the defense during the summer transfer window.

    The Reds manager was actually looking for a new right-back as well as a new center-half.
    And Klopp didn’t start concentrating on his midfield until Fabinho and Henderson had left.

    Klopp will reportedly review his strategy to bolster his defense in January, according to The Sun. And they claim that when the transfer window reopens in just 112 days, he plans to sign highly regarded West Ham center-half Aguerd.

    Man City is a rival for Nayef Aguerd, according to Liverpool.

    Nayef Aguerd

    Only arriving at the London Stadium in the summer of 2022, the Moroccan international has since established himself as one of David Moyes’ top picks.

    In fact, the 27-year-old has played 33 times across all competitions for the Hammers, scoring three goals, and is finally starting to live up to the £30 million West Ham paid Rennes for his services.

    However, Liverpool are now preparing a move amid rumors that Manchester City have also added Aguerd to their list of targets.

    The Hammers, however, won’t give up Aguerd easily and will anticipate getting their money’s worth for a player who is now close to reaching his prime.

    Klopp will, however, reportedly focus all of his efforts on rebuilding his defensive unit going forward, according to the newspaper.
    Joel Matip, a veteran of seven seasons, is currently 32 and may have recently let his standards slip.

    The same age as him and showing signs of not being as strong as he once was is his fellow defender Virgil van Dijk.

    But since Matip’s contract is up next summer and the former Cameroon international is no longer the top pick, Aguerd would replace him.

    Aguerd is anticipated to take Matip’s place at Liverpool.

    To that end, it is said that Liverpool is open to hearing offers for the former Schalke player, who might finish his career in the Bundesliga.

    Van Dijk’s position would change in any deal for Aguerd, who was rumored to be moving to Saudi Arabia during the summer. Van Dijk is frequently chosen as the left-sided center-half, so the addition of the Moroccan left-footer might allow him to switch to the right-side of the central defensive line.

    As a result, Klopp is likely to make the 30-times Moroccan international his top target in January, and a sizable offer is likely to cause West Ham to give it some serious thought.
    And a quick path to the Liverpool first team could give them a competitive edge over City, who spent a lot of money to bring Josko Gvardiol there over the summer.