Harry Maguire and West Ham coach agree on failed move from Manchester United

Harry Maguire has opened up on the West Ham move that fell through in the final weeks of the 2023 summer transfer window.

Erik ten Hag seemed keen to offload Harry Maguire from his Manchester United squad in the latest transfer window, with the player now fourth-choice in his position.

In the summer, the club agreed a £30 million fee with West Ham United for his transfer, but the move ultimately fell through after a reported disagreement on personal terms.

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Speaking after England’s 3-1 victory over Scotland on Tuesday evening Maguire explained how the move fell through.

“How can I put this? We just didn’t come to an agreement,” he said via Express.

“They (United) were happy for me to stay and I was happy to fight for my place. I want to do that and every time I train or play I will give everything.”

Speaking further on his start to the season, he said: “I know, at the moment, when I have not started a game in the first four games of the season, the story comes to me. I want to play games, I want to play football.

“The first four weeks were hard because it was one game a week and the manager didn’t select me but we have lots of games coming up now and I am sure I will play lots of games.” 

West Ham assistant coach Kevin Nolan has also explained that the move was ‘very close’, but that it did not go through due to monetary problems: “I think it was very close, I was a bit upset that we didn’t make it,” Nolan said on talkSPORT.

“I think it was just in the end, the money didn’t get sorted from what I can gather which is obviously upsetting from our behalf because we wanted to [sign him]. Probably upsetting from Harry’s behalf and probably United’s behalf as well.

“I think the gaffer (David Moyes) was in contact with Harry, his agent and everything else but yeah, obviously we then had to move on to our next target.”