Jose Enrique has dismissed a suggestion that Liverpool should sign Manchester United defender Harry Maguire, as he backed the player to secure a move to West Ham United in January.
The former Liverpool left-back thinks Manchester United should only let the ‘fantastic’ centre-back go out on loan to West Ham United if there is a purchase option at the end of it, as he posted on Instagram.
With summer signing Liasandro Martinez and France star Raphael Varane thriving at the heart of the defence for Erik ten Hag, it has resulted in Maguire, who is the captain of the club, becoming a bench option.
With the winter transfer window open, there has been talk of Maguire possibly leaving in order to secure game time, with West Ham a possible interested party.
The 29-year-old went into the recently concluded Qatar World Cup low on confidence and game time, but he still put in a number of strong performances for his country.
That was noted by Enrique, who, at first, reacted to the former Leicester man being linked with the Hammers.
“If I was Man United, not a chance I give him on loan without a compulsory option to buy him if they stay in the Premier League,” said Enrique.
“If not, then it’s a bad deal for Man United and a great deal for West Ham.”
Then, in the comments section of his IG post, the former Spain star was told that Liverpool should push to sign Maguire and he issued the following response: “We have fine centre-backs. We are fine.
“He is a good player. It just didn’t work out for him at Man United and it’s best he goes somewhere else to try and get back to his best, as you mentioned for England he was fantastic at the World Cup.”
MAGUIRE SHOULD LEAVE
The time is up for Maguire to head for the exit door and get his domestic career back on track, as a move like West Ham wouldn’t be a bad idea at all.
One of the reasons why he thrives on the international stage is that he is well-protected in front and there is less goalmouth action.
Now, David Moyes is a defensive-minded coach, just like Gareth Southgate, so Maguire would be able to sit deep, with very little room behind him and the task to defend his penalty area, which he is very good at.
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