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Reaction to the VAR decision that cost Wolves a penalty against Man Utd | Football Digest
West Ham United will have expected to have completed the signing of Harry Maguire by now after agreeing a £30million deal with Manchester United last Wednesday. But the Red Devils' safe approach may have caught West Ham by surprise, leading to the transfer's collapse this week.
Maguire plummetted down Erik ten Hag's centre-back pecking order last season, starting just eight Premier League games.
The 30-year-old was then relieved of his duties as captain, surrendering the armband to Bruno Fernandes, a regular stand-in as he watched on from the bench last term.
With Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane, and Victor Lindelof preferred, Maguire was expected to depart this summer ahead of Euro 2024 in a year's time.
But his desire to fight for his Old Trafford future, and United's strategic approach to his departure, has prompted West Ham to look elsewhere.
Despite agreeing a fee with West Ham, United didn't plan to give the green light until they identified a replacement.
Ten Hag earmarked Bayern Munich's Benjamin Pavard, OGC Nice's Jean-Clair Todibo, and Bayer Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba as options.
Harry Maguire looks set to stay at Man Utd. (Image: Getty)
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And a decision was delayed further due to talks between United and Maguire over a severance package, given he was due to take a significant pay cut at West Ham.
Maguire has two years left on his £190,000-a-week contract at Old Trafford and reportedly wanted United to cover around £10m he was set to lose.
West Ham will have been surprised by the delay, given a club handing a player compensation for a paid transfer is rare.
And the complications, in general, may have caught figures at the London Stadium off-guard, considering Maguire's lowly status in Ten Hag's plans.
Ten Hag often picked left-back Luke Shaw ahead of his No 5 to cover Martinez last season, indicating his lack of faith.