Opinion: Steidten must move quickly as former West Ham target is now available at a bargain price.

West Ham United showed interest in signing England international Harry Maguire this summer, aiming to bring him to the London Stadium.

However, despite their efforts, the move didn’t materialize as Maguire chose to stay at Manchester United and fight for his place at Old Trafford, according to reports from GiveMeSport.

This situation mirrors what happened 12 months earlier when a £30 million deal for Maguire to move to West Ham collapsed due to issues with personal terms, as reported by The Guardian.

Since then, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has strengthened his defense by bringing in Leny Yoro and Matheus de Ligt.

Even with one of these players sidelined due to injury, Maguire has struggled to secure regular playing time at the club this season.

According to the Daily Star (October 13), Manchester United is now willing to accept offers as low as £10 million for the 31-year-old defender, who is no longer considered an essential part of the squad.

This reduced price opens up an opportunity for West Ham, who have been long-time admirers of Maguire, to finally secure his services.

Tim Steidten, West Ham’s technical director, must ensure that the club is in a strong position to move quickly for Maguire, especially with other interested clubs likely to emerge at such a discounted price.

While West Ham made waves during the summer transfer window, aiming to assemble a team capable of competing for a European spot, Steidten made a crucial mistake by not adequately addressing the team’s defensive needs.

Manager Julen Lopetegui currently has limited senior centre-back options, with only Max Kilman, Konstantinos Mavropanos, and Jean-Clair Todibo available.

A long-term injury to one of them could leave the team in a vulnerable position.

Steidten has attempted to address this issue by exploring free-agent options, but those efforts have been unsuccessful.

Preferred target Mats Hummels chose to join AS Roma, and West Ham also missed out on Joel Matip, who decided to retire after extended negotiations with the club.

With Maguire now available at a bargain price, West Ham has a golden opportunity to reinforce their defense.

Maguire’s experience in both the Premier League and European competitions would make him a valuable addition to the squad.

Given the club’s limited financial resources after their summer spending spree, securing a player of Maguire’s caliber at such a low cost is crucial.

West Ham cannot afford to miss out on another key target.