Manchester United blocks Harry Maguire's exit as West Ham withdraws interest

Manchester United appears to have reversed its decision regarding the potential transfer of English defender Harry Maguire. The footballer seemed destined for a summer move, with West Ham United, another Premier League club, expressing keen interest. However, according to a recent report by The Guardian, Manchester United has informed Maguire that he will not be allowed to leave Old Trafford during the summer transfer window, which closes on September 1.

West Ham initially signaled their desire to acquire Maguire when they submitted a joint bid for both him and Scott McTominay earlier this month. The East London club was prepared to secure the duo for a total of £60 million (£30 million each). However, Manchester United rejected the offer for McTominay and requested an additional £15 million. They did agree to the sum for Maguire, whose current contract runs until 2025.

Stumbling blocks in negotiations

West Ham began negotiations with Maguire but faced challenges in finalizing personal terms, primarily due to Maguire's substantial salary. Under his existing contract with Manchester United, Maguire earns a weekly salary of approximately £190,000, a figure that proved unaffordable for West Ham. To facilitate the move, Maguire was willing to accept a wage cut but requested compensation to offset the reduction.

Despite preparing a contract that would have seen Maguire earn around £120,000 per week—nearly £70,000 less than his current wage—West Ham and Maguire reached an impasse. The defender insisted on a £7 million payoff as part of the deal. Consequently, West Ham abandoned their pursuit of Maguire and began exploring other options in central defense. Last week, they successfully secured the signing of Greece defender Konstantinos Mavropanos from Stuttgart.

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Maguire's Manchester United struggles

Harry Maguire joined Manchester United from Leicester City in August 2019 for a world-record fee of £80 million. However, he struggled to meet expectations during his time at Old Trafford. His situation worsened after Erik ten Hag assumed coaching responsibilities last summer. In the previous season, Maguire found himself in Manchester United's starting lineup for just eight Premier League games.

Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez became the preferred central defenders in Ten Hag's starting XI. Maguire was even removed from the captain's role during the pre-season campaign, with Bruno Fernandes taking over as the new skipper. Ten Hag has reportedly issued a stern notice to Maguire, stating that he must fight for a starting spot if he wishes to stay at Old Trafford.

Securing regular playing time is crucial for Maguire's position in the England squad. England manager Gareth Southgate acknowledged that it would be challenging to support Maguire if he continued to spend time on the bench at Manchester United.

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In summary, Manchester United's decision to halt Harry Maguire's transfer to West Ham signals a shift in their plans for the defender, who faces challenges in securing a regular spot in the starting lineup at Old Trafford.