Harry Maguire breaks silence on last summer's failed West Ham transfer from Man Utd

Harry Maguire has revealed he did not turn down the opportunity to join West Ham United last summer.

It was widely reported that Maguire rejected the opportunity to join the Hammers in August as he and Manchester United could not come to an agreement regarding the player’s pay-out at Old Trafford.

As a result, the centre-back remained at United but has found it difficult to get regular game time. Saturday’s win over Brentford was his first league start of the campaign, but that came amid an injury crisis at the back, with Erik ten Hag only having four fit defenders to select from.

It has led to many suggestions that Maguire should have moved on in the summer, but the England international, speaking publicly about the matter for the first time, has said negotiations between United and West Ham were not as advanced as people have claimed.

“Regular game time has always been important to me, it always has been throughout my career,” he said ahead of the Three Lions’ friendly against Australia. “The opportunity to join West Ham… it wasn’t agreed really between both clubs.

“It wasn’t just my chance to say yes and go. The actual opportunity wasn’t there as we didn’t get far enough down the line with it. West Ham are a massive club. My focus is still on Manchester United and I want to fight for my place.”

Maguire, who also revealed that he received a message of support from David Beckham after scoring an own-goal against Scotland last month, put in a solid performance on Saturday in United's injury-time victory over Brentford, with the centre-back setting up Scott McTominay's winner.

Maguire said the timing of that win was huge ahead of an international break. "He [Ten Hag] said 'really well done, really well played' in the dressing room at the end to me," the ex-Leicester City man told the press on Wednesday. "I was pleased to help the lads as I know it's been a difficult start to the season. At this club, the spotlight is always on you and when you don't win football matches the pressure piles on."

"It was really important with the break coming up and we know how important the international break is and the feelings it can bring. It was a really important win - I know we left it late!"