Aston Villa ready to hijack Manchester United deal with West Ham for Harry Maguire after Tyrone Mings injury vs Newcastle
Aston Villa are prepared to hijack Harry Maguire’s move to West Ham after losing Tyrone Mings to injury, according to FootballTransfers.
The outlet reported via their website Sunday (13 August) that Unai Emery’s side have already “made enquiries” at Old Trafford and with the centre-back as they wait on the results of scans after Mings suffered what appeared to be a “serious” knee injury in the 5-1 loss at Newcastle on Saturday.
According to FootballTransfers, if the England international is out until the New Year Villa will sign a new option and have told Manchester United they “would be prepared to match and beat any other offers” for fellow Three Lions defender Maguire.
West Ham have already had a £30million offer accepted for the former Red Devils captain but personal terms are reportedly not yet agreed, although FootballTransfers report that the Hammers remain the 30-year-old’s “preferred” option at this stage.
Hurry
Whatever the hold up is in getting the deal done, whether it be coming from the negotiations on personal terms or the Manchester club blocking it as they look to get a replacement in, the Irons need matters to speed up.
Time is already of the essence with the days counting down to the close of the window but the prospect of another club causing the move to collapse remains live for as long as it isn’t sealed.
If West Ham are still Maguire’s priority that is clearly positive, but given how much effort it has taken to get to this stage it seems like it is far from an open and shut move and his head could yet be turned.
Villa may have been thrashed at St. James’ Park in their first game but they had a far more fruitful Premier League campaign under Emery last term than the Hammers did under Moyes.
Both clubs are in Europe so should satisfy the level of football that Maguire presumably needs to keep Gareth Southgate interested in picking him, although West Ham have the edge there as Villa play in the Europa Conference League while the Hammers winning that competition puts them in the Europa League.
But amid questions over whether Moyes or Tim Steidten could leave, as well as further departures from the squad as Lucas Paqueta looks likely to head to Manchester City, it wouldn’t be a shock for a player to prefer the relative stability on offer at Villa Park.
Losing out on the Maguire deal at this late stage would be another hugely frustrating blow in a summer that has already had too many so the club will hope they can push it over line before Villa come in with a concrete bid.
In other West Ham news, the club want to sign a talented goal scorer who Chelsea failed to buy this summer.