---
title: "West Ham: ExWHUemployee tips Nayef Aguerd to become captain"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/west-ham-exwhuemployee-tips-nayef-aguerd-become-captain-irons-hammers-moyes-rice/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Cameron Winstanley"
section: "Podcasts"
published: "2023-02-09T20:15:25Z"
modified: "2023-02-09T20:15:25Z"
---

# West Ham: ExWHUemployee tips Nayef Aguerd to become captain

**[West Ham United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/west-ham-news/) defender Nayef Aguerd would be the prime candidate to replace Declan Rice as captain if he leaves, according to ExWHUemployee.**

### **The Lowdown: West Ham captaincy**

Following Mark Noble’s retirement after 18 years at West Ham, academy graduate Rice – Noble’s heir in east London – was named club captain at the beginning of this season after continuously impressing since his [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/) debut in [2017](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/declan-rice/debuets/spieler/357662).

But given the rise of the Englishman, [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/dec/01/declan-rice-wants-leave-west-ham-trophies-champions-league-england-world-cup) reported that Rice sees his future away from the London Stadium amid his contract running out in the summer of 2024, pushing the Irons into making a big decision on their star man in the summer and seeing another change of the armband for next term.

### **The Latest: Ex’s comments**

Speaking on [The West Ham Way podcast](https://www.patreon.com/posts/twhw-podcast-9-2-78448006?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_fan&utm_content=join_link), Ex revealed that he’d back [£30m](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12637204/nayef-aguerd-west-ham-complete-30m-signing-of-moroccan-defender-from-rennes) summer signing Aguerd to take the armband should Rice leave.

He said: “If Declan does go in the summer, which I’m pretty sure he is, then I think he \[Aguerd\] would be a great shout to be captain as well, and apparently, he’s a real, real great lad as well, which is really good to hear.

“From what I’ve heard from all the staff, from all the other players, he’s very well-liked, a bit of a joker, a bit of a bubbly character, so for me, he’s got the whole package.”

“\[Moyes\] lost him from before we even kicked a \[ball\] in the Premier League, and that was a massive loss for us. There’s no coincidence that things are turning with him in the side.”

\[freshpress-quiz id=”419201″\]

### **The Verdict: Aguerd a shout?**

With Rice completing the 90 minutes in [every](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/declan-rice/leistungsdaten/spieler/357662) league game so far, there’s yet to be much of a hint about who may take over from the 24-year-old as skipper next season should he get his touted move.

After missing virtually all of West Ham’s games in the run-up to the World Cup, during which he starred for Morocco as they reached the semi-finals, playing the opening [four](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nayef-aguerd/nationalmannschaft/spieler/361914/verein_id/3575) games before missing the last three through injury, Aguerd has shown what the Irons have missed.

He’s played the 90 minutes in all of the last [four](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nayef-aguerd/leistungsdaten/spieler/361914) Premier League outings, with the Hammers picking up five points and conceding just four times.

With his position in the backline cemented when fit, Aguerd proves a solid choice for David Moyes, and with experienced heads Aaron Cresswell and Angelo Ogbonna both being out of contract in the summer ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/west-ham-united/vertragsende/verein/379)), he is quickly becoming a reliable option.

Therefore, taking all into account, Ex’s comments do suggest Aguerd could yet be captain material.