West Ham: ExWHUemployee tips Nayef Aguerd to become captain

West Ham United 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 debut in 2017.
But given the rise of the Englishman, The Guardian 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, Ex revealed that he’d back £30m 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.”
The Verdict: Aguerd a shout?
With Rice completing the 90 minutes in every 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 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 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), he is quickly becoming a reliable option.
Therefore, taking all into account, Ex’s comments do suggest Aguerd could yet be captain material.
