Man Utd defender ‘open’ to late loan move to Premier League rivals following Erik ten Hag warning

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire is reportedly ‘open’ to a late move to Premier League rivals West Ham United.

With David Moyes a known admirer of the United star, Maguire was expected to join the Hammers ahead of the new season after the two clubs agreed a fee believed to be around £30million.

However, the move failed to come to fruition and that led United manager Erik ten Hag to deliver a stern message to Maguire as he urged the defender to replicate his England form at domestic level if he remained at Old Trafford.

Speaking earlier this month, he said: “He (Maguire) has to fight for his place. He has the ability to be a top-class centre-back and he is the best for England so why shouldn’t he be the best for us? But he has to prove it. When he is not confident enough to fight then he has to go, then he has to make a decision, but I’m happy with him.

“We don’t have a squad with 11 players, and the last year proved definitely we need all the players. That means you need some high-level players who are maybe not starting but that can change so there is an internal competition, everyone has to fight for his place.”

There were suggestions Maguire has rejected the chance to join West Ham after the deal was agreed and the former Leicester City centre-back has gone on to be an unused substitute in two of United’s three Premier League fixtures so far this season.

The Hammers interest is believed to remain alive and Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed the England star is ‘open’ to a loan move and is ‘really attracted’ to working under former United manager David Moyes.

He told CaughtOffside: “I’m not aware of Harry Maguire rejecting West Ham. He has always been open to joining this summer but he wants to do so on his conditions and the player is also really attracted by the chance of joining David Moyes.

“For the rest of the transfer window, Maguire would be open to a loan move from now to Deadline Day, but Erik ten Hag and Man United feel it’s going be difficult to replace him if he leaves on loan so at the moment it’s still not easy and it looks like the defender might stay.”