est Ham Saved from £30 Million “Disaster Deal” – Report
Transfer window speculation is nothing new in football, but this season’s rumors pushed the limits. West Ham were linked with a high-profile move for Harry Maguire, the Manchester United centre-back, with the much-derided saga reaching dramatic heights. According to Mirror, United had a £30 million deal “ready to go,” and personal terms were reportedly agreed with Maguire—yet West Ham ultimately walked away from the deal .
The report, as covered by Claret & Hugh, suggests that West Ham’s patience wore thin amidst prolonged, drawn-out negotiations—and thus avoided committing to a transfer that could have become a major liability .
Why It Would Have Been a Risky Move
From the article’s perspective, the deal represented a textbook example of a “disaster deal” in hindsight. Spending £30 million on a player who, at that age, would likely see diminishing returns—and whose future sell-on value would be minimal—was compared to the James Ward-Prowse situation, where a large sum was shelled out for a player who ultimately didn’t deliver proportional value .
Further, it’s argued that Maguire likely would have aged out of value quickly—by now, he’d be 32 and “worth pretty much zero”—making him an expensive, long-term burden rather than an asset . The contrast is especially stark when comparing him to other, younger centre-back options currently on West Ham’s books—Mavropanos, Todibo, Kilman, and Aguerd—who may offer more longevity.
In Summary
- Deal almost agreed: A £30 million move for Maguire was reportedly poised to happen, with personal terms already in place .
- West Ham pulled the plug: The club grew weary of the drawn-out talks and backed off, in doing so dodging what many believe could have been a poor investment .
- Potential pitfalls: Committing large funds to an aging player with little resale value would have mirrored past transfer missteps and risked hampering both performance and finances .
So, it seems the Hammers may have actually done themselves a favour—spurning what could have turned into a pricey mistake.
Let me know if you want a deeper dive into West Ham’s transfer strategies or profiles of any of the other defenders mentioned!
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