Fatigue Forces West Ham to 'Give Up' Against Harry Maguire, Erik Ten Hag Declares 'I'm Satisfied!'

Formerly, Harry Maguire had intentions of relocating to West Ham, following Manchester United's acceptance of an offer; however, the current agreement appears to have fallen through. Erik ten Hag expresses his contentment as Harry Maguire remains at Old Trafford, having witnessed his attempted departure from Manchester United conclude unsuccessfully.

By: Frenkie Tran

08/16/2023 04:02

The ex-captain of Manchester United, formerly known as the Red Devils, appeared poised to exit the club after West Ham United successfully secured his services through an accepted bid. David Moyes, the manager of West Ham, acknowledged the existence of an accord between the two teams, although he refrained from divulging specific details regarding the transaction's progress.

In his words: "A bid from Manchester United has been accepted, but given that he is not yet a member of our squad, I am not in a position to engage in discourse about him." Since that juncture, the decision whether to make a move to London Stadium has been in Maguire's hands. Nonetheless, indications have now surfaced that the erstwhile Leicester player will remain in his current situation.

As per accounts, the proposed £30 million transfer of the defender is now in substantial uncertainty, as West Ham's patience with Maguire has waned. It is reported that negotiations concerning a compensation package for his departure from Manchester United are underway, and Maguire has not directly communicated with Moyes.

This development has caused West Ham to shift their attention towards alternative options they could pursue prior to the closure of the transfer window. Two players under consideration are Jonathan Tah and Odilon Kossounou from Bayer Leverkusen.

Harry Maguire is now poised to remain with Manchester United.

This circumstance places Maguire in a challenging position. His future at Old Trafford seems unpromising following his removal from the captaincy and his diminished role under Ten Hag.

Nevertheless, it appears that the head of Manchester United is now content with Maguire's continued presence. In anticipation of his team's inaugural triumph over Wolves, the Dutch manager stated: "He [Maguire] needs to compete for his spot.

"He possesses the capability to be an exceptional center-back, and he is England's finest, so why can't he be ours? However, he must substantiate this. If he lacks the confidence to fight, he must consider departing. He must make a choice, but I am satisfied with him."

Despite Ten Hag's declaration that he welcomes Maguire's continued stay, this decision introduces a buffer to forthcoming transfer activities at Old Trafford. Prior speculations indicated Manchester United's interest in securing a deal for Bayern Munich's star Benjamin Pavard, potentially as a successor.

Pavard, the Frenchman, appeared enthusiastic about the prospect, having communicated his desire to move on to the leadership of the German club. Nevertheless, with Maguire's retention, the likelihood of United pursuing Pavard has diminished.

Although another defender is not an immediate necessity, Manchester United remains enthusiastic about reinforcing their options in midfield. Sofyan Amrabat has emerged as a potential target, but it is possible that academy graduate Scott McTominay might need to depart before the club can actively pursue a deal for the Fiorentina midfielder.