July 15th 2023.
West Ham United have stepped up their pursuit of Manchester United defender Harry Maguire after Declan Rice completed his £105million move to Arsenal. The Hammers were forced to put their incoming summer transfer business on a brief hold as a complicated deal to take Rice across the capital was thrashed out.
West Ham would prefer a loan move at this stage with United prepared to offload the former Leicester City star on a permanent basis. However, Maguire's preference is to remain at Old Trafford, and try to reclaim his place in the side. Recent reports suggest United are seeking a fee of around £50million for their club captain and David Moyes is a huge admirer of the England international.
Maguire started just nine league league games last season and has slipped down the pecking order at United with Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane now Erik ten Hag’s firm first-choice pairing. Victor Lindelof is also in the equation, while Luke Shaw also impressed in a centre-half role last season, limiting Maguire to just eight Premier League starts.
Another potential stumbling block is the player’s wages. Following United’s Champions League qualification, Maguire and the rest of the squad were given a salary increase, bringing him back up to £200,000-per-week. In all, Maguire has made just 16 appearances last season and while United boss Erik ten Hag admires his professionalism and status as club captain, he admitted in May ‘no one would be happy’ in his current circumstances.
Ten Hag told The Times that he was "happy he’s here and when we needed him he did his job." But he went on to say that it's a decision Maguire has to make and that "no one would be happy" with his current situation. Tottenham have also been credited with interest this summer, but it remains to be seen if West Ham can convince Maguire to move to the London Stadium.
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