Alex Crook shares ‘massive’ Harry Maguire verdict amid West Ham United transfer news
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire “simply has to” move to West Ham this summer, according to talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook.
The Hammers are waiting for the defender to finalise his Old Trafford exit conditions before his medical in East London [Sky Sports, 10 August].
Sky Sports added that every other aspect of the deal is done, with the 30-year-old set to cost West Ham £30million.
“It’s a massive year for Maguire, we’ve got the European Championships at the end of the season,” Crook said live on talkSPORT. “Maguire has got genuine competition now in the form of Levi Colwill, who we expect to play regularly for Chelsea. He had a brilliant summer with the England Under-21s.
“If Maguire wants to be part of Gareth Southgate’s plans, if he wants to be starting games for England in Germany, he simply has to make this move.
“And it has to work out, because what he can’t afford is to go to West Ham and flop, because I think then his England days will be numbered.”
Crucial period
It really is a crucial period in the career of Maguire, who should definitely move on from Manchester United this summer in order to gain regular minutes elsewhere.
Even with the presence of Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd at West Ham, those minutes should arrive in claret and blue, with the East London club keen to compete in the Premier League and in the Europa League.
Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag clearly wants Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane as his central defensive duo, and even picked Luke Shaw over Maguire at times last season.
There is simply no need for Maguire to stay at Old Trafford, unless of course he is valuing finances over playing time, which he really shouldn’t be doing at this stage of his career.
The centre-back definitely still has an important role to play for England, but that role will become increasingly insignificant if the player continues to warm the bench at Manchester United.
In other West Ham news, Alan Brazil has dropped a transfer update regarding Hammers striker Michail Antonio live on talkSPORT.