Exclusive: West Ham may lose two essentially permanent players in January

According to report, West Ham is ready for bids for their first-choice center-back pairing of Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd in the January transfer window.

As the mid-season window draws near, it is thought that both players are the subject of high-budget interest from Saudi Pro League clubs.

According to a reliable source, if either player left for the Middle East, West Ham manager David Moyes would be “desperate” to replace them.

Regardless of what happens with Zouma or Aguerd, report on Monday (16 October) states that the Irons are eager to recruit a new center-back in January.

Harry Maguire is one such target. The London club sought to buy him from Man United during the summer transfer window, but he opted to stay at Old Trafford instead.

On Tuesday, September 17, there was a report that West Ham would be first in line to sign Maguire should he decide against moving in January.

Aguerd, 27, has started every Irons Premier League game so far this year with the exception of one due to a suspension for the team’s 3-1 victory against Brighton in August.

The international player from Morocco joined at the London Stadium from Rennes last summer after agreeing to a deal that runs through June 2027.

The 28-year-old Zouma has played every minute in the Premier League this year while getting rests in the Europa League and League Cup.

Since joining from Chelsea in 2021, the former France international’s contract is slated to end in June 2025 and he has not yet agreed to a renewal.

After Declan Rice’s transfer to Arsenal earlier this year, he was appointed captain.

In the summer transfer window, West Ham moved to acquire Stuttgart defender Konstantinos Mavropanos.

The Greek international, however, has only played in cup and European competition and has yet to make an impact in the Premier League.