Manchester United are once again prepared to sell Harry Maguire after failing to offload him last summer.
Maguire, 31, was in talks to join West Ham a year ago before the £30million transfer deal collapsed. The England international, who’s missing Euro 2024 through injury, had lost the captaincy at United to team-mate Bruno Fernandes and ended the 2022-23 season as fifth-choice in the centre-back pecking order.
Manager Erik ten Hag was reluctant to use him until injuries ravaged the Red Devils’ back line, but Maguire returned to the side and proved himself with consistently solid performances. Despite his turnaround earning him a new-found respect from supporters, United’s new sporting director, Dan Ashworth, is ready to be ruthless.
Maguire will be out of contract in 12 months’ time and United don’t want to lose someone who they paid £80million for on a free a transfer. talkSPORT claim that the ex-Leicesterstalwart has admirers in Italy, where fellow English centre-backs Chris Smalling and Fikayo Tomori have found success.
Former FA, Brighton and West Brom chief Ashworth is expected to make the big calls when it comes to transfers this summer, having finally been poached from Newcastleearlier this week after months of fraught negotiations between the two clubs. Maguire’s sale would bring in cash to fund new signings, as it was expected to do last summer.
During the season, the 31-year-old opened up on not having the opportunity to say either yes or no to West Ham. “Regular game time is really important to me, it has been throughout my career,” Maguire explained.
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