There’s bad news for Man United as West Ham are now ‘in talks’ to sign Harry Maguire alternative Odilon Kossounou claims a journalist.
Harry Maguire’s move to West Ham is said to have stalled and is on the brink of collapse due to issues with his severance at the Manchester United end.
Man United are desperate to raise funds for new signings and have already agreed a £30m deal with the Hammers.
West Ham were said to be confident of completing a deal to sign Harry Maguire from Manchester United this week.
But the move to sign the deposed Man United captain is – according to the likes of Sky Sports – at a stalemate and could fall through.
We reported on claims of a big twist involving the Maguire move at the weekend with West Ham said to be targeting 22-year-old Ivory Coast international Odilon Kossounou instead.
Major update on Maguire situation and West Ham’s hunt for a defender
Kossounou is a player new West Ham technical director Tim Steidten brought to Leverkusen from Club Brugge in 2021.
Powerful and quick centre-back Kossounou has one of the highest tackle success ratios in Europe.
And he represents a much younger option than Man United’s 30-year-old outcast Maguire.
However, it was unclear whether Leverkusen will be willing to sell and at what price. Until now.
Because there has been a major development according to journalist Alan Nixon.
Bad news for Man United as West Ham now ‘in talks’ over deal for Harry Maguire alternative Odilon Kossounou claims journalist
It’s bad news for Man United as West Ham are now ‘in talks’ to sign Maguire alternative Kossounou claims a journalist.
That’s according to an update from The Sun reporter Nixon on his Patreon page.
He reports that West Ham are ‘in talks’ to sign Kossounou, who impressed against them in a pre-season friendly thumping.
As things stand West Ham are offering £25m but Leverkusen – who are willing to sell – want closer to £35m.
‘Hammers want to take the defender as the move for Maguire drags on and the Bundesliga outfit are keen to cash in’
“West Ham are in talks with Bayer Leverkusen about a deal for Ivory Coast centre half Odilon Kossounou…” Nixon states.
“Hammers want to take the defender as the move for Harry Maguire drags on with Manchester United but it will depend on what the German club wants…
“The Bundesliga outfit are keen to cash in on the former Bruges centre half as it would help them to fend off offers for their other defenders.”
One would think a middleground of around £30m might be a sensible compromise.
Especially given that is what the Hammers have already committed to pay Manchester United for Maguire.
Erik Ten Hag tried to intervene in the Maguire situation at the weekend, telling the defender he has to leave if he wants regular football.
But a switch to West Ham – and Man United raising £30m for their own signings – now looks increasingly unlikely.