Three players West Ham United want to sign feature in behind-closed-doors friendly for Man United
Three potential West Ham signings are now in doubt after the players featured in a behind-closer-doors friendly for Manchester United.
The UtdPlug, who are Red Devils experts and have 789,000 followers on Twitter, tweeted that Harry Maguire, Scott McTominay and Anthony Martial were all set to feature in the game against Everton on 15 August.
Each one of those players has been linked with a move to the London Stadium this summer, but this latest development has now put those deals in doubt.
It was thought Maguire was on the verge of joining West Ham after a £30million deal was reached between the two clubs, but Sky Sports reported on 15 August that the move has now stalled.
The news outlet said the Hammers believe they have a full agreement with Man United on a fee and personal terms are not expected to be a problem, but that the centre-back’s exit from Old Trafford has not yet been resolved.
The Irons have also been trying to sign his teammate Scott McTominay after The Athletic reported on 8 August that they had a bid worth £30million turned down for the Scotland international.
That looks like a deal that will be more complicated to complete as the 26-year-old midfielder came on as a second-half substitute in the Red Devils’ game against Wolves on 14 August.
The third player that has been linked with a move to East London is Martial, with The Mirror claiming on 13 August that the French forward is due to hold talks with Man United over his future, as West Ham, Inter Milan and Fenerbache are interested in signing the 27-year-old.
Although it could just be for those players to gain match fitness, the fact they all played in a friendly for the club shows that they are potentially still in Erik ten Hag’s plans and could all remain at Old Trafford.
The big one is Maguire because, since it was revealed he had lost the Man United captaincy, David Moyes has placed getting a deal done for the defender towards the top of his priority list.
He was also on the bench against Wolves, suggesting that he is still happy to represent the Red Devils if he is called upon and isn’t looking to force through a transfer.
The longer time goes on, it feels as though it’s becoming more unlikely that the Hammers will be able to get a deal over the line for any of the three players and they are probably looking at other targets.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers have been urged to sign a “fantastic” midfielder this summer.