West Ham United’s situation with Nayef Aguerd has taken an unexpected turn, and it’s raising questions about the club’s loan strategy. According to West Ham insider Sean Whetstone, the Hammers cannot recall Aguerd from his loan spell at Real Sociedad this January due to a glaring oversight in the terms of the loan deal. The deal, agreed upon last summer, did not include a recall clause, leaving West Ham with no option to bring the Moroccan defender back to London in the midst of the season. This is particularly frustrating for the club, as the decision was made before the unexpected departure of manager Julen Lopetegui and the subsequent appointment of Graham Potter.
The situation has been compounded by the fact that Aguerd’s time at Sociedad is now being described as “jeopardized,” following Potter’s arrival at the London Stadium. While the defender was not particularly valued by the previous regime, with reports suggesting that Lopetegui did not rate him highly enough for a significant role, the new manager may have had different plans. There was hope among some that Aguerd could be recalled in January to bolster West Ham’s defense, but with no option to do so, Potter will have to make do with the players he currently has at his disposal.
This oversight by West Ham has left them in a difficult position. It’s clear that no one expected Lopetegui to be sacked just six months into his tenure, especially given that he was brought in to oversee a rebuilding project following David Moyes’ tenure. Now, with Potter in charge, the club is left regretting the lack of foresight when structuring Aguerd’s loan. The fact that West Ham cannot recall the defender means that Potter’s early tenure at the club will have to be navigated without the benefit of a player who might have added depth and experience to an already thin defensive line.
On the other hand, Aguerd’s situation in Spain is less than ideal, as it’s unclear whether he will continue to play a significant role for Real Sociedad under their current coaching setup. The situation at Sociedad has been in flux as well, and it’s possible that Aguerd’s future with the club may be in doubt if things don’t improve. However, there is a silver lining for West Ham, as it appears Sociedad may be interested in making the deal permanent. Reports from El Gol Digital in November suggested that West Ham is seeking £25 million for Aguerd, which Sociedad is unlikely to be able to afford, given their financial situation. This means it is almost certain that Aguerd will return to West Ham at the end of the season.
Once Aguerd is back in London, it will be up to Potter to decide how best to integrate him into the squad. The Moroccan defender has shown himself to be a solid central defender, and while his time at West Ham last season was not without its challenges, he has the potential to be a useful asset under Potter’s system. However, the club’s past struggles in defense have highlighted the need for better depth, and Aguerd could be a key player moving forward.
West Ham’s management and fans may be disappointed with how things have played out with Aguerd, particularly given the expectation that the club could have planned better for such scenarios. Loan deals are often a double-edged sword—while they can offer temporary solutions, they also come with risks, especially when coaching changes occur unexpectedly. It remains to be seen whether Aguerd can regain the form that saw him make an impression in the Premier League last season, but for now, it seems the defender will be staying in Spain for the remainder of this campaign.
In the long term, though, the £25 million fee for Aguerd could become a sticking point in any potential permanent deal. With Sociedad unlikely to meet that asking price, West Ham may find themselves holding on to a player who could be part of their future plans under Potter—once the Moroccan is back from his loan spell. The future of Aguerd, like many players at West Ham, will depend on how the rest of the season unfolds and whether the club can find solutions to the defensive issues that have plagued them.