Manchester United are reportedly eyeing Real Sociedad’s standout defender Nayef Aguerd, with the Moroccan set to face the Red Devils in Europa League tonight at Reale Arena.
Kick off is at 5:54 Moroccan time and fans can catch the action live on BeIN Sports Arabic 1, BeIN Sports English 1, M+ Campeones, and Canal+ Foot.
Aguerd, 28, joined Sociedad on loan from West Ham United last summer and has produced strong performances in La Liga, racking up 31 appearances across all competitions.
According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, Aguerd’s profile perfectly aligns with what Manchester United needs, especially with Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans both set to leave on free transfers next June.
The Red Devils have endured shaky form defensively, and manager Ruben Amorim sees the versatile left centre-back as a prime candidate to shore up their backline with Lisandro Martinez in the treatment room with a season-ending injury.
West Ham reportedly value Aguerd at around €35m — a fee that Sociedad may struggle to match despite their desire to keep him on a permanent deal. But with United keen on a centre-forward and midfielder this summer, the Moroccan defender’s relatively modest price tag makes him an appealing option.
The centre-back joined West Ham from Rennes in the summer of 2022 for £30 million and is under contract at the London club until the summer of 2027. Then West Ham manager David Moyes subsequently described Aguerd as “a really stylish footballer” who is “a good reader of the game”.
Lindelof will leave Man United at the end of the season and Ruben Amorim has told the defender that he is not part of his plans and is free to leave. Benfica are said to be keen on signing the defender, who himself is believed to be open to a move to the Portuguese giants.
The game between Sociedad and United in the Europa League last-16 could be a game-changer. Strong performances over the two legs might just persuade United to hammer the deal, leaving Sociedad’s hopes of retaining Aguerd hanging by a thread.
