Major update on West Ham making second Harry Maguire bid - Sources

By Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent

31st Jul, 2023 | 4:00pm

O'Rourke: Major update on West Ham's second Harry Maguire bid

West Ham are considering a second offer for Man United centre-back Harry Maguire after seeing their first bid of around £20million rejected, sources have told Football Insider.

However, it is believed the Irons realise a deal could be difficult to do with Maguire, 30, on big wages at United and also reluctant to leave Old Trafford this summer.

But their interest is genuine with West Ham boss David Moyes a big fan of the experienced England international.

But Man United are holding out for a bigger fee after rejecting the Irons’ opening bid for a player the Red Devils paid a reported £80million for in 2019.

Moyes is desperate to add a centre-back to his squad in the final month of the summer window and Maguire would fit the profile the Scot is looking for.

Football Insider revealed on 18 July that United are willing to sell Maguire at a cut-price fee of around £35million – but the player wants his £10million-a-year contract paid up before agreeing an exit.

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That news came after the centre-back was stripped of the Man United captaincy after talks with Erik ten Hag and replaced by Bruno Fernandes.

It is believed that Maguire is set for second-string status if he stays at Old Trafford past the 1 September deadline.

He made 31 appearances across all competitions in the 2022-23 campaign but started in just 16 of those outings.

The England international was initially indispensable after joining in 2019, but Erik ten Hag has preferred the likes of Victor Lindelof, Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane and even Luke Shaw at centre-back.

West Ham’s options in the heart of their defence include Kurt Zouma, Nayef Aguerd, Thilo Kehrer and Angelo Ogbonna.

Craig Dawson was allowed to join Wolves without a replacement back in January.

In other news, West Ham transfer collapses as new details revealed.