Man Utd set to ‘call off’ deal for Bundesliga star after missing out on transfer windfall

Manchester United now look set to miss out on a reported transfer target following the collapse of another deal.

The Red Devils have already spent a healthy total on incomings this summer, snapping up Andre Onana, Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund on deals totalling close to £200million. Meanwhile, outgoings have been few and far between, leaving United less than comfortable with their Financial Fair Play situation, especially after years of high spending leading up to this point.

Exits are likely before the end of the transfer window, but they are not a must, with the Red Devils likely to prioritise squad depth over exits at this point.

Erik ten Hag will want to be absolutely sure that he has enough depth for a busy campaign, and that will likely lead him to reconsider exits during the January transfer window, when he will have a clearer idea of the players he is not going to use. It is, perhaps, for that reason why United have been resistant to losing Harry Maguire despite stripping the defender of the club captaincy.

According to Sky Sports, United agreed a £30million deal with West Ham last week, but the deal has broken down, with the Red Devils feeling they would not have enough time to comfortable arrange a replacement. Meanwhile, Maguire is said to have been told he can stay and fight for his place rather that going elsewhere for guaranteed starts.

The report claims that deal collapsing will likely have a knock-on effect for United, who were said to be keen on signing Bayern Munich star Benjamin Pavard. It’s reported that a deal for Pavard is now very unlikely, given United don’t have the space within Financial Fair Play to pull off a deal without the Maguire money or a significant exit elsewhere in the squad.

United look likely to stick with Maguire as a back-up defensive option for now, and that shouldn’t come as a surprise with Ten Hag saying over the weekend: “He 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.”