Marseille target West Ham’s Nayef Aguerd as De Zerbi pushes for defensive reinforcements
With the transfer window closing in a matter of days, Olympique Marseille are still busy on the market. Yesterday Hamed Junior Traoré arrived in the city for his medical, but the club’s business is far from finished. A further three or four signings are expected, with strengthening the back line the top priority for Mehdi Benatia and the board.
Joel Ordóñez of Club Brugge has been the leading target for weeks. The powerful and versatile Ecuadorian defender is eager to make the move to France, and talks between the two clubs remain ongoing. However, OM are also exploring alternative options – among them Nayef Aguerd, currently at West Ham and well known to Ligue 1 fans.
The former Rennes centre-back has just completed a strong season in Spain, making 36 appearances across all competitions. A Morocco international with 55 caps and two goals, Aguerd has drawn interest from several clubs, including Sunderland. He retains fond memories of Ligue 1, where he made 91 appearances, scoring nine goals and providing four assists.
Should Marseille succeed in luring Aguerd back to France, De Zerbi would gain an experienced defender, a strong presence in the dressing room and a real threat from set pieces.
In his press conference ahead of AS Roma’s clash with Pisa, Gian Piero Gasperini also addressed questions about Jadon Sancho, with the Manchester United winger having been strongly linked with the club in recent weeks through sporting director Ricky Massara.
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