In a bold move, West Ham United is reportedly planning a substantial £60m bid for Manchester United’s star duo, Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay.
The Hammers’ manager, David Moyes, is determined to strengthen his squad and has set his sights on both players to bolster his team’s prospects.
Recent reports suggest that West Ham’s initial attempt with a £20m offer for Maguire had been unsuccessful. Despite this setback, Maguire remains a prominent target for the London club as he continues to be linked with a potential exit from Old Trafford.
Equally appealing to the Hammers is Scott McTominay, who has caught the attention of the club’s hierarchy. However, sources indicate that Manchester United would only consider selling McTominay for a substantial offer of £40m during this summer transfer window.
A recent credible report has revealed that West Ham is gearing up to initiate negotiations with the 20-time English champions regarding a deal for McTominay. The midfielder reportedly seeks regular playing time, prompting his interest in a move away from Old Trafford.
Football Insider has unveiled West Ham’s valuation of £30m for each player, deeming it fair for both Maguire and McTominay. Consequently, the club is actively pursuing a lucrative £60m double deal to secure the services of the Manchester United pair.
The Hammers find themselves in a favorable financial position this summer, fueled by the departure of Declan Rice to Arsenal and the imminent signing of Gianluca Scamacca to Atalanta BC.
Harry Maguire’s recent involvement in pre-season friendlies has been limited, being an unused substitute in a match against Lens. McTominay, on the other hand, missed the fixture due to a minor injury concern.
Erik ten Hag, the head coach of Manchester United, has repeatedly expressed his desire to retain Maguire for the upcoming 2023-24 campaign. Nevertheless, Maguire’s captaincy has been relinquished, and his path back into the starting lineup remains unclear.
At present, Manchester United’s primary center-back choices are Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez, with Victor Lindelof in reserve. Additionally, Luke Shaw occupied the central defense position over Maguire during the previous season.
Maguire’s quest for regular playing time is imperative, especially with Euro 2024 on the horizon, as he started a mere eight Premier League matches in the previous term.
Scott McTominay’s situation is analogous, having been named in the Premier League XI on just ten occasions in the previous season. The majority of his appearances, 14 out of 24, involved coming off the bench.
Although ten Hag is keen to retain McTominay, stiff competition in the midfield lineup, featuring players like Casemiro, Mason Mount, Christian Eriksen, and Bruno Fernandes, makes guaranteed game time a challenging promise.
Meanwhile, Manchester United is actively pursuing a defensive midfielder addition, with Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat topping their wishlist in that specific position.