Manchester United have rejected an offer by West Ham United to take Harry Maguire on loan for next season, it has been reported.
The Hammers are looking to strengthen their side following the British record sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal, and have earmarked the England centre-back as an addition that could help them push back into midtable next season.
However, they are unwilling to engage in talks over a permanent deal at present, with the Red Devils reportedly asking for around £50m for the 30-year-old.
Instead, the Guardian report that they ‘are exploring a loan, potentially with an option to buy’, but that Manchester United have no interest in accepting that sort of deal.
Any move would have required United to continue paying part of his salary too, since ‘his terms are currently too high for West Ham, who also see little value in paying a big fee for a 30-year-old’, meaning that any deal could well now be dead in the water.
Maguire has fallen out of favour at Old Trafford and made just eight Premier League starts last season. Luke Shaw was even preferred to his compatriot in the heart of defence at times, and there are no signs that Maguire’s fortunes will turn around this season amid speculation that Erik ten Hag is keen on yet another centre-back this summer.
