Erik ten Hag admits that Harry Maguire is not happy with his backseat role at Manchester United amid claims that Premier League rivals Newcastle, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham are weighing up a summer swoop.
A centre-half in a Ten Hag team simply must possess, to quote Liam Neeson in Taken, ‘a very particular set of skills’.
The pace and anticipation required to step high up the pitch. The confidence to pass the ball out from the back with line-breaking confidence and authority. As far as Harry Maguire is concerned, then, the England international looks about as well-suited to life at a revitalised Manchester United side as Al Pacino did to an Adam Sandler Razzie-magnet.
But that does not mean Maguire, who’s reputation has gone ten rounds with a peak-era Mike Tyson since swapping Leicester City for Old Trafford in a club-record £80 million deal, cannot be a man revived elsewhere.
Where will Harry Maguire go after Manchester United?
David Moyes’ West Ham feel like a very sensible destination. Maguire’s physicality and aerial ability – like Craig Dawson, Kurt Zouma and Angelo Ogbonna – could see him slot in very neatly in a Hammers side who like to defend the borders of their penalty area.
Football Transfers and 90Min report that, in addition to West Ham, there is interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United, though all three clubs may have reservations about stumping up £40 million for a 30-year-old centre-half on the back of a truly confidence-sapping spell with the Red Devils.
“No one would be happy with this situation,” Ten Hag tells The Times. “He is not as well.”
Maguire has started only eight Premier League games under the Dutchman. Even during the absence of Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof has been given the nod instead; the Swede outstanding in recent weeks.
Maguire risks falling even further down the pecking order, meanwhile, if Kim Min-Jae arrives from Napoli. The Red Devils are in talks with the South Korea colossus; his £43 million release clause expiring in a fortnight’s time.
“He trains always on best levels, with 100 per cent effort,” Ten Hag adds. “So he handles that situation well. And, in his captaincy, he’s important for the squad.
“But he has high competition there with Raphael Varane, who’s fantastic. Let’s say I’m happy he’s here and, when we needed him, he did his job.
“But it’s also a decision he has to make.”
In addition to Maguire, Newcastle are also keen on fellow Old Trafford benchwarmer Scott McTominay.
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