Manchester United may entertain bids for Harry Maguire this summer as Erik ten Hag plans an ambitious defensive revamp.
Maguire, 30, was extensively linked with a move in the summer after losing his place in the team and the club captaincy, but the England defender restored his role after a string of impressive performances until suffering an injury last month.
Others, most notably Raphael Varane, have fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford as a result of this turnaround, and Ten Hag has been impressed by Maguire’s reaction to adversity. However, the Dutchman’s eagerness to refresh his defence options suggests Maguire could still be in danger this summer.
According to ESPN, Ten Hag and football director John Murtough have already met to discuss the next transfer window, which is expected to include both incomings and outgoings in defence.
Ten Hag presently has three centre defenders on his wishlist: Jean-Clair Todibo, Jarrad Branthwaite, and Matthijs De Ligt of Bayern Munich, whom he knows from his time at Ajax.
Varane and Jonny Evans are both out of contract in the summer, but the report suggests Maguire and Victor Lindelof might also leave if they receive suitable offers.
West Ham were interested in Maguire in the summer after he was relegated to the bench for the duration of the 2022/23 season but Ten Hag insisted he was “very happy” that the defender had chosen to stay and fight for his place.
Manchester United’s manager remarked in August, “I’m glad Harry is here. We need a good team. We have four good centre-halves, five counting Luke Shaw, and we will play 50-60 games this season.
“All of the guys are internationals, so we have a tremendous responsibility to bear, but I’m glad Harry is here. He needs to battle for his position, as does everyone else on the club, because we have built a roster with two [players] for each position, and we need it.”
The club is likely to be active in rebuilding their roster in the coming months, as Ineos chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his staff take over sporting operations.
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