West Ham line up the forgotten former Arsenal star after Harry Maguire’s £30m transfer fell through
WEST HAM understand they have signed a replacement for Harry Maguire’s failed bid within the next 48 hours.
The Hammers had accepted a £30m deal for Manchester United defender Maguire – but the move fell through due to disagreements over a fair settlement.
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SunSport previously reported that Maguire, 30, was demanding a £15million severance package due to his recent pay rise to £200,000 a week and the remaining two years of his current contract.
United had bid £6million, a number Maguire was unwilling to accept, meaning the England international is likely to stay at Old Trafford and fight for a starting spot.
It is understood Maguire had personal agreements with the club and was hoping for a chance to play a starring role in the Premier League and Europa League – possibly as captain following Declan Rice’s £105million move to Arsenal.
Meanwhile, SunSport understand West Ham were quick to leave Maguire – a move boss David Moyes has been urging.
The East London club are in talks with several clubs about acquisitions and are determined to find a defensive option ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash with Chelsea.
Bayer-Leverkusen trio Jonathan Tah (27), Edmond Tapsoba (24) and Odilon Kossounou (22) are all targets – the former club of new technical director Tim Steidten.
Former Arsenal centre-back Konstantinos Mavropanos, 25 – now with Stuttgart – is also on the radar.
West Ham currently have Nayef Aguerd, Kurt Zouma, Angelo Ogbonna and Thilo Keher as centre-back options.
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However, Moyes is concerned about Zouma’s poor injury record as 35-year-old Ogbonna enters the final phase of his elite-level career.
Should Brazilian playmaker Lucas Paqueta leave, Moyes could have more money available in that window with Manchester City preparing an offer.
Paqueta, 25, has an £85million release clause in his contract, which comes into effect next summer, and West Ham will want a transfer fee close to that sum to even consider his departure.
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