£30m Man Utd star snubbed West Ham as he’s ‘worried’ about further ’embarrassment’ – pundit
Ex-England international Glen Johnson thinks Manchester United defender Harry Maguire turned down West Ham as he’s “worried” to fail at the London Stadium.
Maguire’s future was in doubt heading into this summer’s transfer window as he barely featured for Man Utd last season.
The England international was behind Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane and Luke Shaw in the pecking order under new head coach Erik ten Hag last season.
The experienced defender will be in the same boat this season if he sticks around at Man Utd but he has attracted interest from their rivals.
Maguire has been linked with Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur this summer but West Ham emerged as his most likely destination.
The Hammers had a £30m bid accepted by Man Utd but this transfer broke down a few days later as talks regarding Maguire stalled.
When this transfer was officially called ‘off’, it was claimed that Maguire ‘never agreed’ to join West Ham.
Former Premier League manager Sam Allardyce has since claimed that Maguire turned down Man Utd because he wants “something bigger” but Johnson thinks he “must be nervous about the move”.
“Yes, I think he needs to play football and show everybody that he’s still good enough to play for England. If he was confident enough that he would be a success at West Ham, then I believe they would have got the deal done,” Johnson told Betfred.
READ MORE: Exclusive… Savage baffled by £100m Man Utd decision; rues Ten Hag’s mistake in loss to Tottenham
“I think he’s worried that he could still play rubbish at West Ham and then the whole situation is even more embarrassing.
“I think he must be nervous about the move because let’s face it, if your current team doesn’t want you and another Premier League team wants you, then the deal should be relatively easy to do. I just believe he isn’t as confident enough as he should be taking that move.”
Maguire’s form for United has declined over the past couple of seasons and he suggested last year that he is “big enough to accept people getting on his back”.
“I’m in a position where I’m going to be criticised,” Maguire said in an interview with The Guardian last year.
“Manchester United paid a large sum of money for me. It is one of the most loved clubs in the world and also one of the most hated in the world as well.
“We know we are under the most scrutiny. I totally accept criticism when we concede goals or make mistakes. I’m big enough to accept people getting on my back and saying I can improve.”
READ MORE: Hojlund second, Spurs trio included… Top 20 U21 players to watch in the Premier League in 23/24
