£35m Man Utd star demands huge pay off to ‘quit’ for Prem rivals after loan-to-buy bid is snubbed
According to reports, Harry Maguire wants his Man Utd contract to be paid up if he is to leave the Premier League giants this summer.
The England international endured a nightmare season under Erik ten Hag last season as he barely featured for the Red Devils.
After Maguire’s poor performances under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick in 2021/22, he slipped behind Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane and even Luke Shaw in the pecking order last season.
It has been made pretty clear in recent months that Maguire is not in Ten Hag’s plans and the defender is one player they are looking to offload this summer.
Inter Milan’s Andre Onana is set to be their second summer signing and sales are now needed to fund moves for one (or two) new strikers.
Maguire was valued at around £50m at the start of this summer but United’s asking price for him has now dropped to £35m.
West Ham are perhaps the team most interested in Maguire and it was revealed on Monday that David Moyes’ side have failed with a loan-to-buy bid for the centre-back.
West Ham are ‘exploring a loan deal with an option to buy’ as ‘they feel the cost of signing him on a permanent deal is too expensive’.
Football Insider are now reporting that a further spanner has been thrown into the works because ‘Maguire wants his £10million-a-year Man United contract to be paid up before he quits this summer’. They add.
‘West Ham are among those keen on a deal but the England international’s £190,000-a-week salary is a major hurdle for them and other suitors.’
‘The Irons are not willing to match that contract, or anywhere near, to get a deal done. It means Maguire, who has two years left on his United deal, would have to take a huge pay cut to leave.
‘Sources say the defender wants paying off to leave United – or he could be willing to sit out his contract and wait for his chance under Ten Hag.’
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Stan Collymore reckons Aston VIlla and Tottenham may also be “in the mix” for Maguire this summer.
“Having just turned 30 this year, I think Maguire would be a perfect addition for a progressive club,” Collymore told Caught Offside.
“Clubs that are pushing for the European spots could do with many of the defender’s qualities as he has shown to be a very good club man, someone who can galvanise players and bring people together.
“West Ham have been mooted and I think it would be a great deal for the Hammers. The Man United star will be motivated for the new season as the EUROS are at the end of it, so maybe you could throw clubs such as Tottenham and Aston Villa in the mix as well.”
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