West Ham target Harry Maguire as Declan Rice completes record £105m Arsenal move
West Ham will target Harry Maguire after Declan Rice completed his £105m move to Arsenal to become the most expensive British player in Premier League history.
Rice’s arrival takes Arsenal’s summer spending past £200m and the 24-year-old believes Mikel Arteta’s side “will take some stopping” as he declared last season’s runners-up could win both the Premier League and Champions League.
And West Ham are now ready to test Maguire’s resolve to stay and fight for his place at Manchester United.
United captain Maguire fell down the pecking order at Old Trafford last season under Erik ten Hag but is understood to be happy at the club and believes he can break back into the team.
However, he is also high on David Moyes’s wanted list at centre-back although the east London club would prefer a loan move to a permanent deal at this stage.
Maguire is behind World Cup winners Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane in the pecking order of centre-backs at United, with Victor Lindelof also competing for a place under Ten Hag. Last season, he was also hampered by injury and played with broken ribs at one point of the campaign.
England manager Gareth Southgate has stuck by Maguire but the offer of regular first-team football heading into next summer’s European Championships would leave the 30-year-old with a major decision to make over his future.
Rice, however, was delighted after finally completing his move to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, bringing an end to a pursuit that has lasted more than six months.
The midfielder has signed a five-year contract until the summer of 2028, with the option of another year, and said he wants to spend his “best years” at the Emirates Stadium as he embraces the challenge of restoring the club to the top of the English game under Arteta.
He arrives at the club after captaining West Ham to Europa Conference League glory earlier this summer, and told Arsenal’s official website: “Lifting that was really special, and the icing on the cake. But my ambitions now are to win with Arsenal again. I think this fanbase deserves it.
“There have been FA Cups, Community Shields, but now it’s time to go one step bigger and win the Premier League, win the Champions League, and I wouldn’t be here if I did not believe that. I believe in this squad. I believe in the manager.
“We have a real good energy around and when everyone is pushing in the right direction Arsenal will take some stopping. So I’m looking forward to this journey.”
Rice’s arrival has taken Arsenal’s summer spending to around £200 million, as they have already completed the deals to sign Kai Havertz from Chelsea (£65 million) and Jurrien Timber from Ajax (£39 million).
“Now I have joined, we’ve got some other signings as well, we are looking to get Arsenal back to the big time, back to winning stuff,” Rice said.
“With Mikel and how he works, the squad, how young everyone is, the energy around the club and also the challenge of getting Arsenal back to where they belong, that means a lot to me.
“I know the fans really want that. For me as a player, I’ve come here really hungry to have more success and to spend my best years at this great club.”
On Arteta’s influence, Rice added: “He’s a massive factor in the reason why I’ve come here. I know he’s going to get the best out of me. I know I’ve got more levels to go up in my game, and I feel like he’s the manager to take me to those next levels. I’m really excited to be working with him.”
Rice has been signed primarily as a defensive midfielder and Arsenal are expecting him to develop into an even better player than has been seen at West Ham and for England in recent seasons.
West Ham had earlier confirmed the 24-year-old’s departure from the club, with Rice writing an emotional open letter to the club’s supporters.
Declan Rice has penned an open letter to West Ham fans.
— West Ham United (@WestHam) July 15, 2023
And as Rice settles in at Arsenal, West Ham will look to make a number of additions to their squad with centre-back Maguire now firmly in their sights.
Despite his injury struggles United went on an 11-match winning run when Maguire was selected in the starting side last season, with the streak spanning over six months. However, he was also guilty of an error when United were knocked out of the Europa League by Sevilla when the run came to an end. He has spoken of his frustration and, pertinently, Southgate described his key centre-back being sidelined as “concerning”.
Southgate has stuck by Maguire when he has been out of the United team, arguing that his performances during the last five years – when he has been the cornerstone of England’s defence – has kept him in the national team. He has reached the World Cup semi-finals and European Champiuonship final, then kept his place for last season’s World Cup when his regular place at United was lost.
Despite being on the bench, his affinity to United is also apparent, with his role as captain seeing him meet non-football staff at Old Trafford, help with the club’s foundation and watch their youth and women’s teams from the stands.
Maguire, like others on late international duty last season, has been given extra time before returning to the United squad for pre-season. He has been in Portugal on holiday where he has been training on his own to make sure he is ready for the new campaign.
