Man Utd star Harry Maguire explains truth behind West Ham transfer collapsing

Harry Maguire has explained that he couldn’t come to an agreement with Manchester United and that is why a prospective move to West Ham in the summer fell apart. The Hammers had agreed a fee of £30million with the Red Devils in August but the move collapsed.

Maguire’s inclusion in the England squad was the subject of scrutiny because the 30-year-old has yet to start a Premier League match this season, only playing 23 minutes off the bench in the loss at Arsenal. And he was put under more pressure at Hampden Park on Tuesday night when he came off the bench for the Three Lions.

As well as scoring an unfortunate own goal, Maguire was goaded by the home crowd. He had the last laugh with a 3-1 win and appreciated the support of the travelling England fans who backed him with supportive chants. But fading out of the United picture has left Maguire exposed as the club discard who cannot play his way out of the England side however hard he tries. To move the narrative on he desperately needs to be playing club football and playing it well.

Yet he insists it was not his decision that saw a move to West Ham fall apart. “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,” he said. “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.” That is an optimistic take given Erik ten Hag’s reluctance to pick him.

Maguire would have been much better off moving to West Ham in the summer but he and United could not agree a pay-off figure. “How can I put this? We just didn’t come to an agreement,” he said.

“They 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.” The bad news for Maguire’s many critics is that when England reassemble next month for the Euros qualifier against Italy and a friendly against Australia his name will be there regardless.

Gareth Southgate has remained loyal so far and one own goal is not going to alter that. “Gareth has been brilliant with me ever since I made my debut. He keeps saying: ‘keep playing well, keep doing a job for England and keep helping us progress’. You see this team is progressing,” said Maguire.

“Of course you want to play week-in week-out and when you get that rhythm, it helps. But honestly, I feel good. He played me at the World Cup and I thought I had a fantastic World Cup having played not so many games.

“I finished off last season with two very strong performances for England and I have played in all five matches to help put us where we are in qualifying but I have got to keep performing when I get chosen.”