Newcastle United
Premier League • England
Newcastle ready to gazump West Ham for Rennes defender Nayef Aguerd
Newcastle have launched an 11th-hour bid to try and pinch Nayef Aguerd from under the noses of West Ham United, according to a report.
Rennes defender Aguerd is set to have a medical with the Hammers as David Moyes tries to seal his first signing of the summer.
The Morocco international has been away with the national side, but he has now travelled to London. And the London Evening Standard have reported that the centre-back could become a West Ham player by the end of the week.
Moyes is prepared to pay an initial fee of around £20m, with add-ons which could see the fee rise significantly.
But the move has now been put in jeopardy by a late approach from Newcastle.
Claret and Hugh claim a high level West Ham insider has confirmed that Newcastle have made a move for Aguerd.
If Newcastle manage to gazump Moyes it will be a huge blow for the club.
They have been hunting for a left-footed centre-back and were hoping the 26-year-old would be the marquee signing of the summer.
Moyes and Rob Newman have spent a lot of resources scouting the player and also negotiating terms with Rennes.
Areola personal terms
The development has put the Hammers in a battle with Eddie Howe’s men, who are also rivalling the Magpies for on loan keeper Alphonse Areola.
Areola signed from Paris Saint-Germain on a season-long loan last summer.
The 29-year-old went on to play 18 games and proved a useful understudy to Lukasz Fabianski.
Fabianski, 37, has signed a new one-year contract, but Moyes could opt to give Areola more game time next seaosn
But there is rival competition for Areola’s services. And it’s Newcastle who are keen on the French star.
According to RMC Sport, the Magpies are making their own progress towards a potential deal.
West Ham do hold an an option to buy Areola, but they have yet to agree personal terms. That could well be an issue with the Ligue 1 giants understood to be paying Areola around £120,000-per-week.