WEST HAM’S bid for centre-half Harry Maguire is stalling over personal terms.

So the Hammers are hurriedly turning instead to Bayer Leverkusen’s Odilon Kossounou — lining up a £30million swoop.

Harry Maguire’s £30m transfer to West Ham might not be so cut and dried

Manchester United have accepted a £30m bid for England star Maguire but they would have to part-fund his wages.

Ivorian Kossounou, 22, has come up as the major alternative, with West Ham sporting director Tim Steidten knowing him from his time at the German club.

Leverkusen may even be open to a loan deal with a guaranteed buy later.

Maguire is in contention to face Wolves in United’s Premier League opener on Monday night..

Maguire, 30, was benched by manager Erik ten Hag early in the previous season and only started eight Premier League games.

It was established earlier this summer that Bruno Fernandes had replaced the England defender as captain at Old Trafford after Ten Hag had stripped him of the position.

Man United have agreed a deal to let Maguire join West Ham, but it is now up to the experienced centre-back himself.

The former Leicester City star is a top target of The Hammers in the context that they want to strengthen the quality of their defence. However, according to a source from journalist Alan Nixon, the negotiations are stalled because the two sides cannot agree on personal terms.

Quizzed if his former skipper is available for Monday night’s match, Ten Hag said: “Of course.”

At Man United, Maguire has lost ground to Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof, and occasionally even Luke Shaw.

He still had the option to remain and defend his position, though.

However, with Euro 2024 approaching next summer, Maguire might feel that playing regularly for the first squad is crucial if he wants to preserve his spot with the Three Lions. Maguire’s contract with United, which pays him £190,000 a week, has two years left.