Manchester United had been in a position to collect £60 million from West Ham United for Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay, but after turning down an approach for the latter and now having got into a wrangle with the former about the terms of his exit, the ship has sailed. News emerged on Tuesday the Hammers have given up on both and will look elsewhere.
It is a most unbecoming strategy from United. Far too often in recent seasons, the club has let saleable assets run their contracts down or fade into inconsequence before being sold for a pittance. The likes of Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Ander Herrera and Alexis Sanchez all left for nothing despite suitors being present in each case.
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Where contracts weren’t allowed to run down, often misguided extensions were signed to protect a player’s value. Phil Jones was one such player, which tells you all you need to know about the policy given his six Premier League appearances in the last four seasons. No disrespect to the England defender, but it highlights the strangeness of the exercise.
United are finally getting the hang of it though, it seems. Anthony Elanga and Zidane Iqbal have brought in fees this summer, with the former netting the club £15m. Talks are underway surrounding the sales of Fred, Donny van de Beek and Dean Henderson too. Granted, part of this sales drive is due to Financial Fair Play and the need to sell before buying, but United are still getting better at moving on.
Which makes their rejection of West Ham’s bid all the stranger. By all accounts, the Red Devils have already identified replacements for the pair. Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat and Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo feel like upgrades on the British duo. Amrabat has been quoted around the £25-£30m mark. If Todibo can be secured for similar, the West Ham money would have done its job.
But United are playing a dangerous game. Maguire did cost £80m in 2019, a world record fee for a defender. The push for more compensation is likely a face-saving exercise from the 20-time English champions. Club figures will know the loss made on Maguire will be endlessly cited. But the damage is done on that score, and calling West Ham’s bluff seems to have backfired massively.
Maguire’s issue is the reputational battering he has taken in recent seasons. His abilities have been vociferously questioned, even by his own fans, after a string of high-profile mistakes. Maguire’s loss of form has seen him lose the United captaincy and his playing time significantly reduced.
The £30m quoted reflects his fall from grace, his age (he turns 31 in March) and the balance of how badly United want to keep him against how badly West Ham want him. The England international has suitors and deservedly so, but are any going to accept paying over the odds for a player who will spend most of his time on United’s bench if he stays? There is no reputation-rejuvenating super-season ahead from Maguire at Old Trafford. He’d need at least two of Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof injured to even get a start. It’s time to move on.
It’s probably that time for Scott McTominay too. He’s been a fine servant for the Red Devils, a true youth product made good. But not all academy players turn into Marcus Rashford. The Scotland midfielder clearly has ability and uses his 6’4 frame well. But his skillset is not conducive to the football Erik ten Hag plays, even if he did get a run-out as sub in the disappointing 1-0 win over Wolves on Monday.
McTominay isn’t disciplined enough to screen the back four like Casemiro. He’s not creative enough to play further forward. His best position is as a physical presence in attacking midfield, similar to Marouane Fellaini. But Ten Hag does not play a style of football that requires a midfield bruiser that far up the pitch. McTominay’s failure to pair his physical acumen with defensive technicality means he is a man out of step with the modern United.
Now 26 years old, McTominay is firmly in his prime. He is unlikely to get much better but his ability would shine in a team like the one David Moyes has built at West Ham. A talented player sometimes weighed down by the expectations of a team who should be challenging for the title, he is perhaps best suited to a club a little further down the pecking order. You don’t play 209 games for Man United if you aren’t a very good footballer. He just isn’t a Ten Hag footballer.
Perhaps United’s brinkmanship will pay off and they will secure a few extra million for Maguire and McTominay. After all, the Hammers have got a few to spare. They’ve just sold Declan Rice for a British record £105m after all. But if the Europa Conference League holders walk away from the negotiating table, the Red Devils could be left with two players they don’t want and the inability to buy the two they do. It’s a dangerous old game this transfer business.
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