Manchester United's Harry Maguire faces criticism; West Ham secures £60 million deals

Posted : 09 August 2023

Manchester United's Harry Maguire is facing boos from sections of the club's fans during the pre-season. On the other hand, West Ham United has reached agreements for two significant deals, targeting Manchester United's Harry Maguire and Southampton's James Ward-Prowse, with a combined value of around £60 million.

Both transactions are estimated to be in the vicinity of £30 million each. Maguire, aged 30, had a challenging time securing regular playing opportunities at Old Trafford in the previous season and subsequently lost the captaincy for the current season. While personal terms for his move are yet to be finalized, it's anticipated that the negotiations will not pose significant obstacles.

Maguire initially joined Manchester United in August 2019 for a record-breaking fee of £80 million, making him the world's most expensive defender at the time.

West Ham had been actively pursuing Ward-Prowse throughout the summer, although Southampton, who faced relegation to the Championship last season, initially rebuffed their offers. However, the departure of Southampton's captain appeared inevitable, and now it seems that the move is indeed set to materialize.

The acquisition of Ward-Prowse is part of West Ham's strategy to reinforce their squad following the sale of English midfielder Declan Rice to Arsenal for £105 million and the transfer of Italian striker Gianluca Scamacca to Atalanta for £21.5 million.

West Ham's manager, David Moyes, has been advancing toward securing Ajax's Edson Alvarez as a replacement for Rice and has also been linked with a potential move for Manchester United's Scott McTominay.

During the previous season, Maguire made 30 appearances for Manchester United, but his league starts were limited to eight. He had seemingly slipped to the fifth choice central defender position at Old Trafford, trailing behind Lisandro Martinez, Rafael Varane, Victor Lindelof, and Luke Shaw.

Despite facing difficulties at Manchester United, Maguire continued to be a key player for the England national team under the guidance of Gareth Southgate, featuring in all five matches during the 2022 World Cup.

In terms of the team's composition, Ward-Prowse started in Southampton's Championship opener against Sheffield Wednesday, but he did not participate in their Carabao Cup first-round loss against Gillingham on Tuesday.

Following Rice's departure, West Ham finds itself without a clear captain, and Moyes has yet to designate a successor. The signings of Maguire and Ward-Prowse present two viable options for the leadership role.

Presently, West Ham's primary central defenders, Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma, have been grappling with injury issues in recent months.

Additionally, Premier League champions Manchester City have shown interest in West Ham's midfielder Lucas Paqueta, with an initial inquiry made, although no official bid has been submitted so far.

Manchester United's Harry Maguire faces criticism; West Ham secures £60 million deals

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