Maguire transfer takes TWIST over Man Utd wage revelation

Robin Bairner

• 6 Jul 2023 11:03 BST
• 3 min read

Manchester United face an additional challenge to sell centre-back Harry Maguire because the England international has received a wage increase ahead of the 2023/24 season.

Maguire, in common with his Man Utd teammates, including Cristiano Ronaldo, who took exception to the news, saw his salary slashed by a reported 25% last summer after the Red Devils failed to qualify for the Champions League.

Erik ten Hag has led the club back into Europe’s top competition and, consequently, the players will have their wages restored.

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In the case of Maguire, though, this poses Manchester United a fresh problem, according to The Guardian.

The centre-back, who remains the most expensive ever player in his position following his €87m move from Leicester to Old Trafford, is open to leaving the club after falling down the pecking order under Ten Hag.

Such is Maguire’s standing at Man Utd, left-back Luke Shaw was preferred to him in a central defensive role at the end of last season. FootballTransfers exclusively reported in June that Ten Hag and the player were set on a divorce with Everton, Tottenham and Aston Villa possible suitors.

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With the player’s salary significantly inflated, though, it is reported that Maguire is now less inclined to depart. He is balancing the potential loss of earnings against making the correct football decision for himself now that he is 30 years old.

Maguire still holds an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €27.6 million and has a contract that runs until 2025.

Man Utd still hope to sell Fred and Elanga

Ten Hag, meanwhile, still hopes to sell Fred and Anthony Elanga, with the Manchester United manager open to transfer offers in the region €35m (£30m).

Fred, who has been linked to Fulham and the Saudi Pro League carries an ETV of €19.1m while Elanga’s ETV is €13.1m.

Scott McTominay is another player who might leave Man Utd, but the Scotland international, whose ETV is €27.5m, is considered to be a valuable player by Ten Hag and it would take a sizeable bid to prise him away.