West Ham have made a £60million ($76.7m) double bid for Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay.
Manchester United rejected a £20m bid for Maguire at the end of July and also dismissed an enquiry close to £30m for McTominay a fortnight ago. But David Moyes is a big admirer of the pair and is pushing for their signings.
Erik ten Hag would ideally like to keep McTominay, but is willing to sanction a sale if the money becomes too good to turn down, with United needing to balance the books after bringing in Mason Mount, Andre Onana, and Rasmus Hojlund.
West Ham’s proposal for Maguire, around £30m, is getting close to the figure United would accept, but the outcome ultimately depends on his decision. Maguire has wanted to stay at United and fight for his place but his England spot will come in jeopardy if he remains behind Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane, and Victor Lindelof.
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West Ham have been encouraged that Maguire is open to joining — he has twice not been given the captain’s armbands by Ten Hag in pre-season friendlies — and would provide the 30-year-old with much more regular games.
They are prepared to offer him £100,000 per week, with United potentially bridging the gap to his current £190,000 per week wages. West Ham had explored a loan move for Maguire, but United were not interested.
West Ham also want to also strengthen in midfield after the departure of Declan Rice, and are on the verge of completing a £32m move for Ajax’s Edson Alvarez. West Ham have also held talks over James Ward-Prowse but have parked that pursuit over cost, with McTominay, 26, emerging as a real possibility.
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Should Maguire leave, United could offer Jonny Evans a contract. Evans, 35, has been playing for United during pre-season and would cost no transfer fee, with a reduced salary. Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo is also of interest.
Real Sociedad are continuing talks with United over Donny van de Beek, who is said to have accepted his career is in need of a jump start at a new club.
Sides in Turkey, including Galatasaray, have made approaches for Fred, who missed United’s U.S. tour for personal reasons. But the offers to United and the player, who is 30 and has one year left on his contract, have been below expectations so that situation has cooled. Fulham remain interested but United would have to lower their £20m asking price. Clubs in Saudi Arabia could also come into the reckoning.
Were United to make two sales in midfield, a formal approach for Sofyan Amrabat is expected. United have held talks with Fiorentina over the 26-year-old and personal terms would not be an issue. Amrabat, a Morocco international, has one year left on his Fiorentina contract.
United are also working to sell Eric Bailly, who has been in at Carrington but is not part of the first-team squad any longer. Bailly, 29, has a deal running to 2024 with the option of an extra year.
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(Photos: Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images; Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)
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