West Ham facing brutal Man Utd snub amid claim star thinks they’re small-time

David Ornstein has poured cold water on the chances of West Ham signing Harry Maguire, with the reporter suggesting there’s a belief the Man Utd star doesn’t rate the Hammers.

Erik ten Hag’s first season at Old Trafford breathed new life into the club. However, the Dutchman’s arrival had dire consequences for Harry Maguire.

Indeed, the 30-year-old was dropped as a starting centre-half after just two matches – both of which ended in defeat to Brighton and Brentford respectively.

Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof and even left-back Luke Shaw were all preferred to Maguire at centre-half as the season wore on.

Rubbing salt into the wounds was Ten Hag subsequently stripping Maguire of the Man Utd captaincy. As a result, Sky Sports claimed Maguire would consider all of his options.

West Ham emerged as one of very few to register concrete interest in signing the England international. The Guardian revealed they’d seen a loan bid rejected, while a £20m permanent offer earlier this week was also knocked back.

Now, according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, West Ham are unlikely to return with an improved bid.

Ornstein revealed the reasons why, though perhaps even more concerning for West Ham are suggestions Maguire has his sights set on grander clubs than the Hammers if leaving Man Utd.

West Ham not big enough for Maguire?

“I don’t think West Ham are going to push harder for the time being,” said Ornstein while appearing on Sky Sports News.

“Their £20m offer was made on the basis that Maguire’s salary is very high for them. They probably can’t go much further [for Maguire] in terms of what else they’re trying to do.

“I think for the time being Maguire intends to stay and fight for his place. Would he want to go to West Ham is a question we don’t know [the answer to] in all of this.

“There are suggestions that he’s got really high expectations if he’s to leave Man Utd [regarding] where he might go.”

Aside from centre-half, West Ham are also seeking to spend much of the money recouped from their Declan Rice sale in midfield.

Indeed, the Hammers have already seen bids for Joao Palhinha (£45m), Conor Gallagher (£40m) and James Ward-Prowse (£20m or £25m depending on source) rejected.

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