Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has confirmed that his proposed summer transfer to West Ham United collapsed because it couldn’t be fully agreed by all parties.
Maguire has had a rough 18 months, with his form repeatedly called into question towards the end of the 2021/22 campaign as United leaked goals at an alarming rate.
He ended up being dropped by Erik ten Hag after shock successive defeats at the start of last season, occupying a periphery role for the rest of the campaign. Due to a lack of game time and being fourth in the centre-back pecking order behind Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof, Maguire was eventually also removed as captain during the summer.
Earlier reported in July, United were prepared to let Maguire go, although the player himself was keen to stay and fight for his place. West Ham eventually had a £30m bid accepted, having earlier been met with rejection amid simultaneous interest in Scott McTominay.
However, the deal collapsed in mid-August. The proposed transfer fee was agreed, while Maguire himself had also accepted the reduced terms on offer from West Ham. But the sticking point appeared to be a request for a pay-off to cover his loss in earnings not being granted.
Sources say at the time that no agreement was reached between Maguire and United, forcing West Ham to accept defeat in their pursuit of the player.
“The actual opportunity to go to West Ham, it wasn’t agreed between both clubs and myself,” Maguire explained at a press conference while on international duty. “West Ham are a massive club but my full focus is still on Manchester United and I want to fight for my place.”
Injuries in defence so far season have presented Maguire with the opportunity he has been waiting for. With Martinez ruled out for the next few months and Varane also missing the Brentford game last weekend, the ex-skipper started alongside former Leicester colleague Jonny Evans, with Lindelof filling in at left-back due to the absences of Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Sergio Reguilon.
United looked to be heading for what would have been a seventh defeat of the season in all competitions until a late turnaround inspired by a McTominay brace – Maguire even got assist credit.