Wayne Veysey

Mon 6 June 2022 7:00, UK

West Ham are in advanced talks to sign Rennes defender Nayef Aguerd, Football Insider understands.

The Premier League club are increasingly confident of securing an agreement with the French club for the 26-year-old.

A West Ham source has told Football Insider that negotiations are intensifying over a deal worth around £25million.

Aguerd has already begun house-hunting in London as he looks to complete an early-window transfer.

This site first revealed the Irons’ interest in Aguerd last July of last year and that the Londoners were working on a deal to sign him.

An agreement could not be reached at that stage, but West Ham have continued to pursue the English-speaking star.

Rennes are ready to cash in on Aguerd, who has been watched closely by West Ham and other top clubs over the last two seasons.

The defender is capped 19 times by Morocco and made 40 appearances across all competitions during the 2021-22 season.

He spent the majority of the camaign playing at centre-back but filled in at left-back on occasion.

Aguerd has made 80 total appearances for Rennes since joining the French side from rivals Dijon in August 2020.

West Ham did not strengthen their squad during the 2021-22 January transfer window despite fresh investment from Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky.

David Moyes’ side struggled to find a consistent centre-back pairing through the 2021-22 season.

Angelo Ogbonna was ruled out for the season after getting injured in November as Craig Dawson, Issa Diop and Kurt Zouma rotated for the remainder of the campaign.

In other news, the Hammers have made an approach to sign a breakthrough star after scouting mission.