Manchester United is seeking £80 million from West Ham for the double transfer of Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay, according to reports.
However, the larger portion of this amount is allegedly for McTominay, rather than the former captain of the Red Devils.
As reported by SportsWeez, West Ham recently made a £60 million double bid for Maguire and McTominay. This comes after the East London club secured a £35 million deal for Ajax midfielder Edson Alvarez, who is expected to undergo a medical in London within the next 24 hours.
David Moyes, the manager of West Ham, has shown keen interest in signing both Maguire and McTominay.
Maguire, an England center-back, is considered one of Moyes’ top priorities. The player arrived at Manchester United from Leicester in 2019 for a record-breaking fee of £80 million. However, he has fallen out of favor under Erik ten Hag, having lost the captaincy and making only eight Premier League starts last season.
Furthermore, West Ham has been in talks with Manchester United regarding the transfer of McTominay for several weeks. The Scottish star has slipped down the pecking order following Mason Mount’s arrival from Chelsea and Casemiro’s prominence in Ten Hag’s plans.
The Times claims that West Ham’s offer falls short of Manchester United’s valuation for the players. The club reportedly wants £40-£45 million for McTominay and around £35 million for Maguire.
West Ham initially offered £20 million, which was rejected. Although they have improved their bid and engaged in wage discussions, an agreement is yet to be reached.
It is essential for all parties involved, including Manchester United, to find a mutually beneficial agreement, especially considering Maguire’s recent salary increase after the team’s Champions League qualification. Now earning around £200,000 per week, Maguire will be the highest-paid player, surpassing the wages of any West Ham player.
Ten Hag is content with having both Maguire and McTominay stay and fight for their positions, and he will not force either player out. However, recent updates suggest that he may allow them to leave for a significant sum.
McTominay has impressed during pre-season matches and even captained Manchester United against Borussia Dortmund.
Meanwhile, Maguire is still considered an important squad player, despite being fourth-choice center-back behind Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, and Victor Lindelof.
The question now remains whether West Ham will return with an improved offer for the duo before their Premier League opener against Bournemouth.