Darren Bent blasts Harry Maguire live on talkSPORT after West Ham United transfer decision
Darren Bent blasted Manchester United defender Harry Maguire live on-air for turning down a move to West Ham this summer.
Speaking on the talkSPORT Drive Show on 16 August, the pundit accused the England international of a lack of ambition after Sky Sports journalist Julian Warren reported on 15 August that his switch to the Hammers was “off”.
Bent said he doesn’t like the decision as he believes the 30-year-old would have been an “excellent signing” for the Irons this summer.
“I don’t like it,” he said. “I think it shows a lot of complacency. There’s a big tournament at the end of the season and he’s got the opportunity to go to a big club that achieved great things last season by winning the Europa Conference League and have recruited really well in bringing in players like James Ward-Prowse. I think he could be a part of that.
“The fact that Maguire has decided to stay at Manchester United and knows he’s not going to play shows a real lack of ambition – it shows a lack of anything.”
Given up
It appears as though Maguire has in a sense given up on his club career as Erik ten Hag has made it pretty clear he isn’t going to be getting much game time at Old Trafford.
The centre-back’s minutes were massively reduced under the Dutchman last season and, now that he’s had the captaincy taken off him, you would think he’s likely to play even less this campaign.
Bent is right to point out that it shows a real lack of ambition from him as it’s probably going to soon start having an impact on his England career, given that other defenders are emerging onto the scene.
Maguire would’ve been a near enough certainty to be starting on a weekly basis with the Hammers in a bid to try and get his career back on track following a disappointing couple of years.
Although it was the Red Devils boss that decided he couldn’t get a replacement in before the transfer window shuts in two weeks’ time, the defender could’ve put his foot down and forced through a move if he really wanted to.
In other West Ham news, agents are at work to unlock a player’s potential exit from the club.