According to a report from Manchester Evening News, West Ham United still hold an interest in Harry Maguire and might consider making another attempt to secure the Manchester United defender, with the aim of replacing Kurt Zouma.
In the summer, David Moyes’ team had a £30 million bid for Maguire accepted, but the proposed transfer ultimately did not materialize. The report suggests that West Ham could rekindle their pursuit of Maguire in the upcoming January transfer window. This renewed interest comes in light of potential interest in Kurt Zouma from Saudi Arabia, with Maguire being identified as a potential successor to the Frenchman.
Maguire’s Ongoing Struggles At Old Trafford
Harry Maguire is still grappling with the challenge of securing a consistent spot in Erik ten Hag’s starting lineup. Throughout the preceding season, the English international featured in 31 matches for Manchester United across various competitions.
Despite these hurdles, the 30-year-old demonstrated his value as a reliable defensive asset, maintaining averages of 0.5 tackles, 0.8 interceptions, and 2.6 clearances per game in Premier League fixtures. Moreover, his distribution from the back was executed with precision, achieving an impressive 85.4% success rate on pass attempts in the English top flight. However, in the current season, the former United captain has made only four appearances and played fewer minutes than Jonny Evans (statistics provided by whoscored).
Should Ten Hag Sanction His Exit From Manchester United In January?
Throughout the last year, Maguire’s standing at Old Trafford has diminished, currently placing him fourth in the competition for a starting center-back role. Victor Lindelof surpassed him in the pecking order towards the end of the previous season and maintains his precedence over the English captain to this day.
While Maguire has only made a four appearances for Manchester United in the current season, he remains hopeful about his potential contributions for this campaign already grabbing an assist in the process. He firmly believes the upcoming hectic fixture schedule could provide an opportunity for him to showcase his abilities and prove his worth yet again.
However, it is clear that Erik ten Hag is not inclined to grant him numerous opportunities, as he believes Maguire doesn’t align well with his system. Therefore, it would be in Maguire’s best interest to seek regular playing time elsewhere, with West Ham emerging as a potentially ideal destination. The English captain could rejuvenate his career at the London Stadium, making a valuable contribution under the guidance of David Moyes.
