West Ham could be close to confirming the signing of defender Nayef Aguerd from Rennes, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

The Hammers are yet to add to their squad this summer but that could change very shortly with Aguerd, although Sheth was speaking before rumours emerged on Wednesday afternoon that Newcastle were making a last-gasp move to hijack the deal.

Who is Nayef Aguerd?

Some supporters may not be aware of Aguerd given that he has never previously played in the Premier League, but he has been making a name for himself in Ligue 1 in recent years.

The 6 foot 2 centre-back helped Rennes to a fourth-placed finish in France's top-flight last term, and was a standout performer for his side.

According to WhoScored, he made more clearances (4) and won more aerial duels (3.1) per match than any of his teammates in 2021/22.

His performances clearly caught the eye of West Ham, and Metro reported on Wednesday that they are on the verge of bringing Aguerd to the London Stadium for £20m.

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What has Sheth said about Aguerd?

Sheth has revealed that West Ham could make two additions to their squad soon, with one of them being Aguerd.

He has stated that Aguerd will shortly be having his medical, and if that goes through without issues, he will then be unveiled as a West Ham player.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Sheth said: “There are two signings that look quite imminent as it stands, and one of them is the Rennes central defender Nayef Aguerd. He’s either been having a medical today, or tomorrow he’ll be having that medical at West Ham.”

Would signing Aguerd represent a positive start to the transfer window for West Ham?

Absolutely.

West Ham currently have four senior central defenders on their books, but Angelo Ogbonna missed the majority of last season with a knee injury, while Kurt Zouma and Issa Diop have also had their own fitness issues in the past.

This has meant that David Moyes has become very reliant on Craig Dawson, who turned 32 last month.

With West Ham set for another season in Europe, they badly needed to strengthen their back line this summer to limit the risk of leaving themselves short in this key area of the pitch moving forward.

Getting a deal done for Aguerd so quickly is a very promising start, and he should now be able to get a full-pre-season under his belt with his new teammates, giving him ideal preparation for the season ahead.