Manchester United defender Harry Maguire would reject a transfer to West Ham United if Erik ten Hag allowed a move. David Moyes has eyed the centre-half to bolster his backline.
That is according to ESPN and Sky Sports, with both publications reporting Maguire intends to stay at Old Trafford. He is determined to fight for his role under Ten Hag after falling out of favour this season. Maguire will also only change his stance if Ten Hag urges him to leave.
The 29-year-old is committed to helping the Red Devils seal a top-four finish this term. The club is also enjoying a potential Premier League title challenge ahead of visiting Arsenal on Sunday. So, Maguire intends to put considerations over his future on hold until the summer.
Maguire is only focused on his role for Manchester United after starting in just two Premier League games since August. He has also seemingly fallen behind left-back Luke Shaw to start at centre-half. Yet any transfer away in the January sales is not currently on his radar.
Moyes identified Maguire as a transfer target for West Ham as his situation at Manchester United presented an attractive opportunity. Yet the 53-cap England ace still believes there is a role for him under Ten Hag. He is leaning on the Red Devils playing in four competitions.
Maguire and Manchester United have dented Moyes’ transfer plans at West Ham
The Mirror first cited West Ham’s interest in Maguire and noted that Moyes was targeting the Manchester United ace on loan. Red Devils chiefs, though, want to assess his future at the end of the term. They are likely to look into selling the enforcer at a ‘considerable loss’.
Maguire has now, seemingly, dashed Moyes’ hopes to put another hurdle in the Hammers’ pursuit, though. 90min has also reported that Ten Hag does not want to see the defender leave in January. It notes that the Dutchman still feels he has a lot to offer at Old Trafford.
Despite Ten Hag only fielding Maguire in 15 matches – including just eight Premier League games for 383 minutes – he has praised what the Sheffield native has shown he can offer.
“He was magnificent in protecting the box,” Ten Hag told BBC Sport about Maguire’s game after Manchester United beat West Ham 1-0 in October. “He is a great player and a really good defender, and we have seen how important he is for the squad.”
So, Moyes and West Ham are likely at the end of the road with their interest in Maguire’s transfer from Manchester United. He had set the Red Devils back a then world-record fee for a defender at £80m when leaving Leicester City under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2019.
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