West Ham United were close to signing Manchester United centre-back Harry Maguire during the summer transfer window, agreeing a £30 million deal with the Red Devils for his services.
However, the 30-year-old opted to remain at the Old Trafford club after they refused to meet his exit terms, and Jamie Carragher reckons he has missed out on a trick.
Maguire is yet to start a Premier League game this term, only making his first appearance of the season after coming off the bench to play 23 minutes against Arsenal before the international break.
The Man United star has remained in the plans of England manager Gareth Southgate despite his lack of minutes at club level, featuring against Ukraine and Scotland, but Carragher believes a move to West Ham would have been ideal given his need to play regularly to boost his chances of making it to the European Championship next summer.
“He missed the opportunity to start landing a few punches when he turned down West Ham in the summer,” the former Liverpool defender told the Telegraph.
“David Moyes would have been the perfect manager in an ideal team for Maguire’s attributes. I am sure he would have been a success there.
“Too many transfers stall because a player feels mistreated and refuses to leave without a pay-off. Maguire had to think beyond that, especially when considering his international career.
“It is unfeasible for a centre-back to go into the next Euros when they have not been a regular for their club for two years.”
The former Leicester City star started just eight Premier League games last term and came off the bench eight times, and he could struggle to make up to 16 league appearances this term as he remains way down the pecking order.
Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd have remained West Ham centre-back pairing this term, with Angelo Ogbonna coming in for the Morocco international against Brighton & Hove Albion after he was red-carded against Chelsea.
The three options Moyes has deployed at centre-back so far this season are top players as they come, but Maguire would have fancied his chances of forcing his way into the Hammers starting XI had he moved to the London Stadium.
West Ham signed Konstantinos Mavropanos after their move for the Red Devils defender fell through, and the Greek international will be looking to impress on his return to the Premier League.
The Irons are playing in four competitions this term, and the summer arrival will get his chance, but Maguire could have been the one donning the claret and blue jersey instead had he gotten his priorities right and chosen football over money.
