West Ham United ‘ready to consider alternatives to Manchester United’s Harry Maguire’
West Ham United are reportedly contemplating ending their interest in Manchester United defender Harry Maguire.
Throughout the summer transfer window, it has been anticipated that the Hammers will have in excess of £100m to spend once Declan Rice departed for elsewhere.
However, since the club legend moved to Arsenal in a £105 deal, West Ham have taken their time before finalising a number of additions, their incomings only set in motion last week.
David Moyes has been able to add each of Ajax’s Edson Alvarez and Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse to his midfield, and a further option may arrive in due course.
That said, the East Londoners have placed a certain amount of focus on trying to get the acquisition over the line for Maguire, who is no longer the captain at Man United.
On Friday, Moyes confirmed reports that West Ham had agreed a fee with the Red Devils, believed to be in the region of £30m, and the expectation was that the deal would progress as anticipated.
Four days on from Moyes’s comments and a transfer has not been completed, and it appears that West Ham are growing frustrated with the hold-up as they bid to advance their plans before the end of the month.
According to The Telegraph, Moyes is prepared to look at other options in a similar price bracket in a bid to ensure that he has a fresh face for his backline.
Furthermore, The Sun claims that Maguire is requesting a £15m pay-off from United in order to leave his current club over the coming weeks.
The England international will have to accept a considerable pay-cut if he is to swap United for the London Stadium, despite West Ham’s participation in the Europa League.
Maguire is already said to have rejected a £6m pay-off, highlighting that there is potential for the situation to drag on when West Ham want to complete the signing and United will have a replacement in mind.
As United earned a controversial 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday night, Maguire remained as an unused substitute, even when Lisandro Martinez suffered an ankle issue during the first half.
Aston Villa are also said to be monitoring any developments with Maguire’s future after Tyrone Mings suffered a serious knee during his club’s Premier League opener against Newcastle United last weekend.
