West Ham’s Ambitious Bids for two starlets

In a somewhat startling revelation, it appears West Ham United’s ambitious loan offer for Harry Maguire has been

spurned by Manchester United, with a hefty £45m bid for João Palhinha also rejected by Fulham. Fresh from the

sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal for a substantial £105m, the Hammers are evidently keen to bolster their squad with

some impressive signings. As reported by The Guardian.

The Quest to Fill Rice’s Boots

As David Moyes looks to replace Rice, the focus seems to be on securing two formidable midfielders. One of them is

Fulham’s João Palhinha, while Edson Alvarez of Ajax is also under consideration.

Simultaneously, there’s a clear ambition to strengthen the backline, leading to the audacious approach for England

international, Harry Maguire.

However, Manchester United’s willingness to entertain offers for Maguire doesn’t necessarily guarantee an easy

transfer. West Ham’s current exploration is around a loan move, potentially with an option to buy, considering a full

transfer may be too costly.

Maguire, who experienced a substantial salary hike following United’s Champions League qualification, poses a fiscal

challenge to West Ham. Their hesitation to pay a high fee for the 30-year-old is palpable. Despite the anticipation of

a significant loss on the £80m Maguire, United remain keen on elevating their window budget through the sale of

surplus players.

This strategy could face obstacles as Maguire’s popularity has waned during his stint at Old Trafford, with just eight

Premier League starts last season. A tough decision lies ahead for the former Leicester defender – stay at United or

opt for a new adventure. With Euro 2024 on the horizon, regular playtime will be a critical factor for him.

In his pursuit of creating competition for Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma, Moyes faces a dilemma. West Ham has

indeed secured a new deal with Angelo Ogbonna, but his age raises questions, while Thilo Kehrer’s future remains

uncertain.

An increased urgency to spend has descended upon West Ham after Rice’s sale, yet a swift move has not been

evident. Fulham’s hefty £80m valuation of Palhinha leaves the Hammers doubtful about securing the Portugal

international, despite suggestions that a slightly lower £50m might suffice.

As a potential alternative, Edson Álvarez is under consideration, though the transfer fee associated with the Mexico

international remains a concern. A failed attempt by Borussia Dortmund to sign him last month only complicates the

situation further.

The Hammers are believed to have shown interest in the Juventus midfielder Denis Zakaria, with a loan move being

discussed. They are, however, likely to be outpaced by Newcastle in their pursuit of Leicester winger Harvey Barnes.

Other midfield options being explored include Bristol City’s Alex Scott, James Ward-Prowse of Southampton, and

Everton’s Amadou Onana.