WEST HAM have re-opened talks with Manchester United again for Harry Maguire — but they are well short of doing the deal.
The Hammers are trying to find a way to pay a little more to help United to pay off the England centre-back.
Harry Maguire could still move to West Ham before the end of the transfer windowReuters
David Moyes has his eyes set on England defender MaguireRex
They had agreed a £30million transfer fee but Maguire has two years left on his Old Trafford deal and is demanding a hefty United pay-off.
West Ham agreed a four-year deal on £120,000 a week — a £70k weekly cut from his United wage.
So United offered him a £6m bonus but Maguire wants more than that as, if he stayed and saw out his contract, he could command higher wages as a free transfer.
United want a sale to finance other signings and West Ham hope the money men can come to an arrangement before the window closes on Friday.
Maguire, 30, started just eight Premier League games last season.
Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag has established a regular partnership between Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez.
And Maguire has not featured in any of their opening three games of the 2023/24 campaign.
He was also relieved of the captaincy in the summer as Bruno Fernandes took the armband.
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When asked about Maguire’s future earlier this month, Ten Hag said: “For Harry, that is just how I described it. He has to fight for his place.
“He has the ability to be a top-class centre-back and he is the best for England so why shouldn’t he be the best for us — but he has to prove it.
“When he is not confident enough to fight then he has to go. Then he has to make a decision but I’m happy with him.”
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