West Ham have to money in 4/10 star who’s now value lower than Aguerd

It has been a gripping marketing campaign as soon as once more underneath David Moyes‘ steering at West Ham United, albeit a 12 months characterised by ups and downs, bleakness and brilliance.

Final 12 months’s stuttering season was papered over by the triumphant conquest within the Europa Convention League, which admittedly sculpted a stage of success few would have envisaged when Moyes returned to the relegation-threatened membership in 2019.

And regardless of the £105m sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal, West Ham have waded deep into the Europa League, dealing with Xabi Alonso’s indomitable Bayer Leverkusen within the final eight, additionally battling a number of rivals for a qualifying league spot in subsequent season’s European competitors.

Lengthy has Moyes’ tactical set-up obtained criticism for a perceived pragmatic strategy, although success speaks for itself and the Scottish gaffer has labored wonders in lifting the Irons to heights unseen in a few years.

Defensive solidity and cohesion have been an intrinsic a part of Moyes’ model all through his time in east London however West Ham have misplaced a few of that grit this season, with their 54 top-flight conceded the best tally of any aspect within the high 12.

The place has it gone mistaken? One of many greatest points that Moyes has needed to wrestle with is the sharp fall of Nayef Aguerd, who got here third in United’s Participant of the Season award for 2022/23, behind Rice and Mentioned Benrahma.

Nayef Aguerd’s season in numbers

West Ham signed Aguerd from French membership Rennes in a £30m package deal again in 2022 after the Moroccan had made his identify with some stellar showings, stemming from a “world-class youth academy“, as was mentioned by expertise scout Jacek Kulig.

Accidents marred his 2022/23 marketing campaign – Aguerd was sidelined in the beginning of the marketing campaign with an ankle subject sustained in pre-season – however he impressed together with his strong model nonetheless, averaging 4.3 clearances per recreation within the Premier League and successful 64% of his floor duels, as per Sofascore.

Nonetheless, he is did not construct on that first-term promise because the summer time and was criticised for his error-strewn efforts, with The Athletic’s Roshane Thomas noting that “defensive errors are holding him again.”

Clearly, that is one thing that Moyes has famous, with summer time signing Konstantinos Mavropanos taking the 28-year-old’s place of late, Aguerd beginning simply one of many previous 5 top-flight matches, together with his sole begin coming within the calamitous defensive show towards Burnley.

Whereas his Premier League performances this season have been punctuated with errors and defensive lapses, Aguerd stays a top quality defender and that is revealed via his seasonal metrics, finishing 80% of his passes, averaging 5 ball recoveries and three.9 clearances per recreation and successful 65% of his floor duels.

One would assume that strengthening the backline can be a precedence place for the Hammers heading into the summer time switch window, and provided that Soccer Insider reported again in February that Aguerd is the probably member of the rearguard to be shipped on, regardless of having three years remaining on his present deal.

Whereas captain Kurt Zouma is extra prone to retain a spot within the West Ham squad, there is no denying that the Frenchman has not loved his best marketing campaign on the membership, with the bosses probably sensible to contemplate cashing in on the 29-year-old.

Kurt Zouma’s season in numbers

Zouma was appointed West Ham captain in the beginning of the season after main his teammates to a noteworthy begin to the season however he has deteriorated because the time period has dragged on, failing to provide the sort of energetic, commanding performances which are definitely inside his ability set.

In equity, when Zouma is match and firing he’s undisputably West Ham’s finest centre-back, described as a “colossus” by his supervisor prior to now, however his efforts have left supporters wanting extra, not least due to his promotion to the captaincy earlier within the marketing campaign.

Whereas the one-time Everton loanee ranks among the many high 13% of centre-backs throughout Europe’s high 5 leagues over the previous 12 months for objectives and the highest 8% for clearances per 90, as per FBref, he additionally ranks among the many backside 18% for cross completion, the underside 4% for passes tried and the underside 5% for progressive passes per 90.

Certain, Moyes’ tactical set-up does not name for slick-passing defensive performances, however Zouma is definitely not indispensable given West Ham’s present defensive stage.

Kurt Zouma’s market worth in 2024

Zouma’s declining shows have brought on a depreciation, understandably, nevertheless it’s alarming to see that his market value has truly halved since he joined the membership from Chelsea in a £30m switch again in 2021.

Certainly, in line with CIES Soccer Observatory’s participant valuation mannequin, Zouma is presently value simply £13m, which marks a 57% lower in lower than three campaigns of service on the London Stadium.

It additionally marks him at a decrease valuation than Aguerd, who has misplaced his place and has been beset with a decline of his personal, nonetheless valued at £17m.

Given, furthermore, that Zouma is likely one of the highest-paid gamers on the membership, maybe it would not be the worst factor to money in on the participant and spend money on a freshly-structured defence, with the profitable outfits over in Saudi Arabia earmarking the titan for switch earlier within the season.

The one-time Chelsea man was additionally removed from at his finest in the course of the 4-3 defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon, receiving a lowly 4/10 match score from London World because the Hammers meekly wilted late on.

That displaying noticed Zouma make only a solitary sort out whereas additionally shedding the ball on seven events, together with his woes laid naked by the truth that he recorded a cross accuracy charge of simply 76% – grim studying for a central defender.

Time will inform, however it’s a little bit of a priority that the skipper shouldn’t be fairly dwelling as much as the heights that he’s able to reaching. Approaching his thirtieth 12 months, West Ham may be inclined to recoup funds and revamp their backline.