Former West Ham United scout, Mick Brown, revealed his side lodged an insulting bid for Harry Maguire back in the summer of 2023.
The English centre back had a terrible first season under Erik ten Hag, where he barely played and he was very much on the chopping block.
West Ham did make a move for the player but he ended up staying and had a more productive 2023/2024 season at Old Trafford, playing regularly as a back up centre back.
Many felt the signings of Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro would put pay to Maguire’s future at the club but he has played in eight games so far this season, starting four.
He also made the headlines by scoring an injury time equaliser against Porto in the Europa League earlier this week.
Speaking to Football Insider, the former West Ham employee claimed, “I was at West Ham last year when United were looking to sell Maguire, Scott McTominay and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.”
“I couldn’t believe that they were doing that, and of course we were interested.”
Nonetheless, Brown lambasted his former club’s lack of guile in negotiations and branded their efforts to sign the England international as “insulting”.
“But in their wisdom, the West Ham owners went and bid £20 million for Maguire. It was an insulting offer to United. An insult. They were never going to get him for that price.”
The scout then queried their decision to spend £40 million on Max Kilman this summer, who he believes is a good player but not up to the same standard as Maguire.
Brown was full of praise for the former United captain and asserted, “he’s consistently United’s best defender, and he always steps up and performs for England too.”
There have been rumours United may look to sell Maguire this January and he may even be released in the summer when his contract expires. They still harbour a long-term interest in Jarrad Branthwaite, but Maguire’s contract does have a one-year extension option and there is no doubt that his value to the team has increased in the eyes of many since the summer of 2023.
Featured image Octavio Passos via Getty Images
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