Exclusive: Not another Italian flop for West Ham as Graham Potter REJECTS Juve's swap deal

Photo credits: Alessandro Schiavone

Exclusive by Alessandro Schiavone

Swap deals in football are a two-way street.

And Juve are about to be dealt a huge blow in their chase of West Ham defender Nayef Aguerd.

The Bianconeri, who also pursue ex-Chelsea winger Jadon Sancho, explored the possibility of flogging Daniele Rugani in return for the Moroccan.

But Graham Potter is understood to have other ideas than Rugani to ensure West Hams's net won't be punctured another 62 TIMES in the 2025/2026 Premier League season.

Rugani was once the hope of the Italian game and tipped to be the next big thing. In fact many observers expected him to be 'future' of both the Old Lady and the Azzurri alongside fellow budding centrale di difesa Alessio Romagnoli.

But those rosy predictions proved anything but prophetic as the centre-back, blighted by injuries and perhaps a lack of deep understanding of the position and grinta, struggled to make an impact throughout his career like the ex-AC Milan man.

He didn't have much luck in his season-long loan spell at Ajax either last term or at Rennes five years ago.

In Amsterdam the 30-year old was named an unused substitute on 15 occasions and was just an afterthought for countryman Francesco Farioli as he completed the 90 minutes just five times.

And to Juve's disappointment he surely won't lead the defensive rebuild at West Ham as Potter prefers a different type of defender.

No longer the gold mine for world-class centre-backs or a club with bottomless pockets like in Serie A's heyday, Juve now have to ponder whether to pursue a deal for Aguerd or direct their attentions elsewhere.

Invariably, the Hammers won't consider any offer below £20million for a player who impressed at La Liga side Real Sociedad on loan last term.

With Rugani out of the picture, Southampton's  Taylor Harwood-Bellis is one of the names linked with the east Londoners.

Ironically his father-in-law Roy Keane scored his first-ever goal against a London side in a 4-0 FA Cup spanking of Hammers back in 1991.

The news means worried West Ham fans can breathe a huge sigh of relief.

After their failed experiments including Antonio Nocerino, Marco Borriello, Simone Zaza and Gianluca Scamacca the club won't add another player from the Boot to their roster.

The last time they did business with Juve it went well as Angelo Ogbonna, signed for a lowly £10m in 2015, went down a club legend.

But ten years is a long time in football and there was never any chance of Rugani picking up where Ogbonna left off in Potter's thinking.