West Ham United have reportedly submitted an improved offer totalling £30m for Manchester United centre-back Harry Maguire, with the player set to leave Old Trafford this summer.
The 30-year-old has fallen down the pecking order of defensive options for Erik ten Hag over the past year, starting just eight matches in the Premier League for the Red Devils in the 2022-23 season.
Maguire has continued to be favoured by England manager Gareth Southgate ahead of the likes of AC Milan's Fikayo Tomori, however there is a growing consensus that the former Hull City man needs to play regular football this season to secure his place at Euro 2024.
The defender made the switch to Old Trafford from Leicester City for £80m in the summer of 2019, and has since featured 175 times for United, scoring seven goals over a four-year period.
According to The Sun, West Ham have tabled a second bid worth £30m for Maguire, as David Moyes looks to build a Hammers squad which can fight on four fronts next term.
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The East Londoners are preparing for a season of Europa League football after lifting the Europa Conference League trophy in Prague, and West Ham have a significant transfer budget to work with following the sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal for £105m.
It is understood that an initial bid worth £20m for Maguire was swiftly rejected by Man United, meaning that the Hammers had to up their offer to keep any chance of a deal alive.
The 57-time international was stripped of the captaincy at Old Trafford following the conclusion of the 2022-23 term - a clear sign that Ten Hag does not plan to use the centre-back heavily next season - with Portuguese playmaker Bruno Fernandes being announced as his successor.
The report claims that West Ham boss Moyes has made Maguire one of his priority signings this summer, as the Hammers look to bolster their defensive options ahead of the new campaign.
It is believed that the centre-back's wages could be a stumbling block in the move to the London Stadium, with the Three Lions star receiving a salary increase after Man United qualified for the Champions League.
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A possible solution could be that Ten Hag's men top up Maguire's wages in compensation following a switch to West Ham, although terms of a potential transfer are yet to be agreed on.
It has also been reported that West Ham are planning to open talks with United midfielder Scott McTominay, with a double swoop for the Scotland international and Maguire supposedly an option.
The 26-year-old did not feature in either of Man United's pre-season friendlies over the weekend at Old Trafford, with the likes of Casemiro, Mason Mount and Christian Eriksen all preferred to McTominay by former Ajax boss Ten Hag.
The Red Devils commence their Premier League campaign with the visit of Wolverhampton Wanderers on August 14, and it remains to be seen whether Maguire will be a United player by that time.
Carter White
