Sport nationWest Ham Submitted “Insulting” £20million Bid for Harry Maguire
According to former West Ham senior scout Mick Brown, the club made an astonishingly low offer of £20million for Manchester United’s Harry Maguire in the summer of 2023. This bid was swiftly rejected by Manchester United chiefs, who were reportedly displeased with the insulting offer.
Brown, who worked for West Ham until departing alongside David Moyes at the end of last season, revealed the details of the rejected bid in an exclusive interview with Football Insider. Brown’s insight provides a fascinating glimpse into the complexities of transfer negotiations and the challenges faced by clubs in securing top talent.
The offer for Maguire came during a period when Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was looking to offload several players, including Scott McTominay and Aaron Wan-Bissaka. While McTominay eventually joined Napoli and Wan-Bissaka made his way to West Ham, Maguire remained at Old Trafford.
Brown expressed his astonishment at Maguire’s situation, praising the defender’s consistency and performances for both Manchester United and England. “I was at West Ham last year when United were looking to sell Maguire, McTominay, and Wan-Bissaka,” Brown said. “I couldn’t believe that they were doing that, and of course, we were interested.”
However, Brown’s enthusiasm for signing Maguire was not shared by West Ham’s ownership, who opted for a lowball bid. “But in their wisdom, the West Ham owners went and bid £20million for Maguire. It was an insulting offer to United. An insult. They were never going to get him for that price.”
The rejection of West Ham’s bid highlights the importance of making reasonable offers in transfer negotiations. Manchester United’s valuation of Maguire was clearly higher than West Ham’s, and the club’s ownership would have been better served by making a more substantial bid.
West Ham eventually overhauled their defense with signings Max Kilman, Jean-Clair Todibo, and Wan-Bissaka, replacing Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd. However, Brown questioned the decision-making behind the £20million bid for Maguire, particularly in light of the £40million spent on Kilman.
“I think Kilman’s a good player, but when Maguire plays, he’s consistently United’s best defender, and he always steps up and performs for England too,” Brown said. “I was, and still am, astonished by the treatment he gets.”
Maguire has continued to feature prominently for Manchester United this season, making seven appearances and starting five games. Despite this, he has only started twice in the Premier League.
The story of West Ham’s failed bid for Maguire serves as a reminder of the complexities and challenges inherent in transfer negotiations. Clubs must carefully consider their valuation of players and make reasonable offers to avoid rejection.
In the world of professional football, transfer negotiations are a delicate balancing act. Clubs must weigh their desire for top talent against the financial realities of the transfer market. West Ham’s failed bid for Maguire highlights the importance of getting this balance right.
As the transfer market continues to evolve, clubs will face increasing pressure to make savvy signings. The story of West Ham’s £20million bid for Maguire serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of lowball offers and the importance of respecting a player’s value.
In the end, West Ham’s failure to sign Maguire may prove to be a blessing in disguise. The club has since strengthened its defense with quality signings, and the future looks bright for the Hammers.
However, the question remains: what if West Ham had made a more substantial bid for Maguire? Would the defender have joined the club, and how would this have impacted their season? The answer, much like Maguire’s future, remains uncertain.
The transfer market is full of what-ifs, and West Ham’s failed bid for Maguire is just another chapter in this ongoing saga. As clubs continue to navigate the complexities of transfer negotiations, one thing is clear: only time will tell how these decisions shape the future of football.
With the football world watching, West Ham’s failed bid for Maguire serves as a reminder of the high stakes involved in transfer negotiations. Will the club learn from this experience and make more savvy signings in the future? The clock is ticking.
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