Exclusive: Moyes decides on Maguire as West Ham ponder a major Manchester United raid.
West Ham United manager David Moyes has informed the club’s board that Harry Maguire is the ideal candidate to enhance his team’s backline this summer.
Despite links with Luiz Felipe, conversations with Real Betis have subsequently halted, indicating the club’s market direction in terms of defensive reinforcements.
According to sources close to CaughtOffside, any negotiations between the Hammers and Manchester United may not end there, as Scott McTominay is also on the club’s wishlist. However, given their great interest in the Scot displayed in recent hours on Sunday 6th August, Roma could make a move for him soon.
Jose Mourinho’s men could be encouraged to enter into negotiations following an approach from Rennes for Nemanja Matic, and McTominay is being explored as a possible replacement.
The Europa Conference League winners have yet to push in this direction amid efforts to sign Declan Rice’s replacement in Edson Alvarez. Talks are currently in an advanced stage with the deal expected to be finalised at around £35m – potentially this week.
The forward line is a slightly more complicated puzzle for West Ham to solve in the current window.
Gianluca Scamacca’s impending, official departure to Atalanta – pending the completion of a medical – could lead the London-based outfit to explore a relatively local solution in Folarin Balogun (understood to be expendable, according to Mikel Arteta’s own wishes).
CaughtOffside sources have clarified that West Ham have inquired about the player, however, the American currently has his heart set on a switch to Inter Milan.
Another option could be Armando Broja who could depart Chelsea on loan after returning from a serious knee injury (cruciate ligament rupture) that kept him sidelined for much of the 2022/23 campaign.
West Ham’s list also extends to Anthony Martial, Elye Wahi and Youssef En-Nesyri, though no final decision has been made on any particular pathway the club could explore for the forward department.
