By Wayne Veysey

3rd Aug, 2023 | 2:21pm

Sources: Everton leapfrog West Ham and Tottenham in race to sign Harry Maguire

Everton have leapfrogged Tottenham and West Ham in the race to sign Man United defender Harry Maguire, sources have told Football Insider.

The three Premier League clubs, as well as Chelsea, have registered their interest in signing the England centre-back before the window shuts.

United are willing to sell Maguire, 30, but he is on big wages of nearly £200,000-a-week and that deal runs for two more years.

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.

West Ham are considering a second offer for the defender after seeing their first bid of around £20million rejected.

But Everton have also made a move for Maguire and they represent what is seen as a strong option for the player.

Sean Dyche is in the market for a new centre-back following the departures of Yerry Mina and Conor Coady and amid growing doubts over the future of Jarrad Branthwaite.

Intriguingly, West Ham are keen on Branthwaite, 21, who is keen to get more regular football following his successful season on loan at PSV Eindhoven.

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.

In other news, Everton make approach to sign £20m-plus star available for sale