Published on 09.08.2023
The Hammers will pay about £60m in total
West Ham United have agreed deals for Manchester United’s Harry Maguire and Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse worth about £60m in total. Each deal is thought to be worth in the region of £30m.
The 30-year-old Maguire struggled for first-team opportunities at Old Trafford last season and has been stripped of the captaincy this season. He is understood to be keen on the move with personal terms yet to be agreed but not expected to be a problem. He joined United in August 2019 for a world record £80m for a defender.
West Ham have been trying to sign Ward-Prowse for much of the summer but Southampton, who were relegated to the Championship last season, had rejected their advances until this point. However, it has appeared inevitable that Southampton would lose their captain and that now seems set to happen.
The Hammers are looking to bolster their squad after selling England midfielder Declan Rice to Arsenal for £105m and Italy striker Gianluca Scamacca to Atalanta for £21.5m. West Ham boss David Moyes is closing on signing Ajax’s Edson Alvarez as a replacement for Rice and has also been linked with a move for Manchester United’s Scott McTominay.
Rice’s departure leaves West Ham without an obvious captain and Moyes has opted not to name a replacement so far, but Maguire and Ward-Prowse provide two options. Current first choice central defenders Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma have both had injury problems in recent months.
