Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has been linked with a move to West Ham.
Manchester United have the chance to save another £20m by selling captain Harry Maguire to West Ham. David Moyes’ side are reportedly keen on the disgraced centre-back but it remains to be seen if the Red Devils are ready to part ways with the England international this summer.
Since Erik ten Hag arrived at Old Trafford, Maguire has quickly fallen down the pecking order. He started the first two Premier League games under the Dutchman but is now behind Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw – as his place in the England squad is also in question due to a lack of playing time.
West Ham could lose United Maguire in this transfer window as they recently received a cash inflow by selling Declan Rice to Arsenal for a record £105million. Scott McTominay has been traded as a potential replacement while Maguire could possibly follow him to the London Stadium.
However, United are said to have dumped a £40m price tag on Maguire, which proved unaffordable as he is not in the club’s first team and a club buying him would be unlikely to get him. in the future, he has already turned 30.
United have another reason to sell Maguire as, in addition to the transfer fee they would receive for the captain, his salary would also be wiped from the books. The defender has two years left on his contract and is reportedly earning £200,000 a week. Over the two years, his salary would be £20.8million.
For a player who is likely to be a marginal option and will only play if the front four options are unavailable, just over £20m would be a decent savings. However, the club don’t seem too keen on selling the former Leicester man, despite several Premier League sides having an interest in his services.
Maguire is reportedly looking to stay at Old Trafford and fight for his place despite him making just 16 league appearances last season, including eight as a starter.
Gareth Southgate has already warned him that his international place could be in doubt, but Maguire and United appear to be on the same page.
Sky Sports News said Ten Hag would leave the decision on his future up to Maguire as the club know he will need to sign a replacement if he leaves.
The Red Devils have been linked with Axel Disasi and Jean-Clair Todibo, but with United set to receive a £20m injection on top of a transfer fee, their captain’s future remains uncertain.
