The ‘insane’ reason Maguire might be forced into Man Utd stay

Suraj Radia

• 12 Mar 2023 11:14 GMT
• 2 min read

Manchester United ‘fear’ they won’t be able to offload Harry Maguire this summer as they look to continue their transition under Erik ten Hag.

Maguire has been relegated to the bench since Ten Hag’s arrival, with the United boss preferring the partnership of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane in defence.

United are considering breaking their transfer record to bring in Tottenham striker Harry Kane, meaning any further signings would require income generated from sales, however the club may have to consider departures outside of Maguire due to his ‘insane’ salary.

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Maguire has two years remaining on the contract he penned after his £80 million move from Leicester in 2019, with his wages believed to be in excess of £200,000-a-week.

The likes of Newcastle and Paris Saint-Germain have been reported as potential destinations for Maguire but even clubs with such financial prowess are thought to have been put off by the England international’s demands.

United are looking to overhaul their squad in the off season, with the likes of Maguire, Eric Bailly and Anthony Martial being considered as potential departures to raise funds.

United waiting on moves amid uncertainty

Ten Hag is desperate to sign a striker this summer, with Wout Weghorst expected to return to Burnley after his loan, and Kane is believed to be the club’s top target, along with Napoli’s Victor Osimhen.

However, both players would cost in excess of £100m, meaning United could turn to cheaper alternatives in Mohamed Kudus of Ajax and Benfica’s Goncalo Ramos if they are unable to lower their squad size and wage bill with departures.

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The club’s ownership situation will also likely require a resolution before any formal moves are made, although there is hope that investment will be in place by the end of the season, be it a partial or complete sale.

United are also hoping to sign a midfielder, with Frenkie de Jong still wanted by Ten Hag, as well as a defender, indicating that the likes of Maguire will need to be moved on if the club are to revitalise the squad to the extent that they desire.