'Looks like...' - Insider drops massive news from Rush Green as WHUFC star set to miss 16+ games

West Ham have learned how long they will be without new signing Nayef Aguerd after his pre-season injury, according to club insiders Claret & Hugh. 

In June, the Hammers completed the signing of the Moroccan centre-back, paying Ligue 1 outfit Rennes up to £30million including add-ons.

But in a pre-season friendly against Rangers last week, his second game in an Irons’ shirt, Aguerd was forced to limp off after just 23 minutes.

West Ham announced on Monday that the Moroccan had undergone successful surgery to repair the problem, providing next to no detail on the extent of the problem.

Moyes currently has four other centre-backs at his disposal – Angelo Ogbonna, Kurt Zouma, Craig Dawson and Issa Diop.

Club insiders Claret & Hugh report that Aguerd faces up to three months out at the start of his Hammers career after he tore ankle ligaments.

One ‘key source’ told the outlet that: “It looks like three months – the surgery involved repairing torn ligaments and he will continue his recovery at Rush Green under our medics.”

When could he return?

Well, if the timescale proves to be accurate, a likely target would be the trip to Manchester United on 29 October.

Between now and then, Moyes’ side are due to play 13 Premier League fixtures, at least one round of the Carabao Cup and at least two Europa Conference League matches, meaning he could miss at least the first 16 games of his Irons career.

He looks certain to miss meetings with Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Liverpool.

The Athletic’s Roshane Thomas described the injury as a ‘huge blow’ to Moyes’ side ahead of the new campaign.

And it’s hard to argue with that assessment, given that Moyes could go around a third of the season without what may well have been