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Man Utd Willing to Let Maguire Go for £50m
Manchester United’s Harry Maguire is the subject of transfer speculation as reports suggest that the club is looking to offload the defender.
The 30-year-old was signed by the Red Devils in 2019 for a world-record fee of £80m, but his value has since taken a hit due to a lack of regular playing time.
Manchester United have now set a high starting price tag of £50m for Maguire, which is likely to dampen the enthusiasm of potential buyers.
Maguire started only 16 games last season, with half of those appearances coming in cup ties, as he lost his regular place in the side under manager Erik ten Hag.
The Dutch manager has preferred other defenders, including Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof, and Luke Shaw, leaving Maguire surplus to requirements at Old Trafford.
Despite his reduced playing time, Maguire remains an England international and will undoubtedly be attractive to other clubs.
However, his lack of regular club football could jeopardize his place in the national team set-up ahead of Euro 2024.
England manager Gareth Southgate has warned that players who are not playing regularly for their clubs will struggle to secure a place in the national team.
Maguire is reportedly preparing to discuss his future with ten Hag, which could determine whether he remains at Manchester United or moves to a new destination after four years in Manchester.
It is highly unlikely that potential suitors will be willing to pay the £50m asking price, but there is likely to be some room for negotiation if they are willing to haggle.
Earlier this week, it was reported that Maguire was likely to lose the Manchester United captaincy, even if he remained with the club next season.
Portuguese playmaker Bruno Fernandes is the most likely candidate to take over the armband, having stepped in for Maguire in games when the defender was out of the line-up.
Maguire is keen to fight for his place at Manchester United and has been working hard in pre-season training, taking part in three sessions a day during an intense training camp in Portugal.
He is also working with legendary former Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho to improve his game. Whether he remains at Manchester United or moves to a new club, Maguire will be hoping to secure regular playing time to maintain his place in the England set-up.
It remains to be seen whether potential suitors will be willing to meet Manchester United’s valuation of Maguire.
However, with two years left on his contract, the Red Devils may be open to negotiating a lower fee to offload a player who is surplus to requirements. Maguire’s future may become clearer in the coming weeks as the transfer window heats up.
