---
title: "West Ham: Moyes handed ‘sucker punch’ with Nayef Aguerd injury"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/west-ham-united-nayef-aguerd-injury-news-update-moyes/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Will Seager"
section: "Premier League News"
published: "2022-07-27T20:15:54Z"
modified: "2022-07-27T20:15:54Z"
---

# West Ham: Moyes handed ‘sucker punch’ with Nayef Aguerd injury

**[West Ham United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/west-ham-news/) manager David Moyes has been handed a ‘sucker punch’ with the injury sustained by new signing Nayef Aguerd ahead of the opening day clash with Manchester City.**

### **The Lowdown: Aguerd’s injury**

The Morocco international joined the Hammers last month after the East London club agreed a [£30m fee](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12637204/nayef-aguerd-west-ham-complete-30m-signing-of-moroccan-defender-from-rennes) with French side Rennes.

Last Tuesday, the 26-year-old suffered an injury in the 11th minute of the Irons’ 3-1 pre-season loss to Rangers, having twisted his ankle while attempting to make a tackle (via [The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/3449047/2022/07/25/west-ham-defender-aguerd-undergoes-surgery-on-pre-season-ankle-injury/)).

As a result, the West Ham defender underwent [surgery on his ankle](https://theathletic.com/3449047/2022/07/25/west-ham-defender-aguerd-undergoes-surgery-on-pre-season-ankle-injury/), and although the procedure was a success he is [expected](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/west-ham-news/west-ham-nayef-aguerd-injury-timescale-emerges-david-moyes/) to miss several Premier League games.

### **The Latest: Whelan’s claim**

Noel Whelan, who used to work as a pundit for [BBC Radio](https://icdb.tv/stats/4247/Noel-Whelan), has weighed in on Aguerd’s injury and the effects it will have on Moyes’ team. Speaking with [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/west-ham-handed-sucker-punch-as-insider-news-confirms-nayef-aguerd-worst-fears-pundit/), the former Leeds United striker claimed:

“Pre-season is so important, and it’s vital that you get through it – especially as a new player.

“Your worst fear is picking up any injuries – whether you’ve been there years or if you’ve just arrived.

“This is not the start he will have wanted at West Ham. It’s a sucker punch because you want to get to grasps with the English game, and the pace of the game – so he’ll be very frustrated.

“For David Moyes and Aguerd, this is certainly not how they envisioned it when they brought him in.

“They are going to need to do a bit of reshuffling now before the season starts.”

\[freshpress-quiz id=”398176″\]

### **The Verdict: Huge blow**

With Moyes having been so intent on securing an established centre-back this window, his worries seemed to have disappeared when the club signed Aguerd on a long-term deal.

However, the boss’ anxieties may have returned, with ExWHUEmployee (via his [Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/posts/aguerd-set-back-69559904?utm_medium=post_notification_email&utm_source=post_link&utm_campaign=patron_engagement&token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZWRpc19rZXkiOiJpYTo3M2JkYzliMi1jMmY5LTQwNzItYTk5Yy1mNzM5MzNiN2FlNjYiLCJwb3N0X2lkIjo2OTU1OTkwNCwicGF0cm9uX2lkIjo0NTE1MzMzOH0.2XNDdc4xlIwvBo4Xy5xKGS1tuopLB22jsoTLD94CkRM), 25 July) reporting that club chiefs are ‘fearful’ that the defender could be ruled out until the World Cup – which kicks off on 21 November.

\[freshpress-poll id=”403769″\]

Moyes’ alternative options include Issa Diop, who is the subject of [interest from Fulham](https://www.footmercato.net/a4378204384535178474-west-ham-la-porte-souvre-pour-issa-diop), and Angelo Ogbonna, who has recently returned from an [anterior cruciate ligament injury](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/angelo-ogbonna/verletzungen/spieler/48002).

We may well see West Ham frantically dipping back into the transfer market in search of an extra centre-back in the next few weeks.