Manchester United will be faced with taking a £40million hit on Harry Maguire if the England defender leaves Old Trafford this summer.
Maguire returned to the line-up for Sunday’s win over Leeds at Elland Road, but it was only his fifth Premier League start of the season.
That is simply not enough for a senior international who turns 30 in less than three weeks’ time, and there is a growing acceptance on both sides that Maguire will have to move at the end of the season.
United will be open to offers but fear they may have to accept half of the £80million it cost to sign Maguire from Leicester in the summer of 2019, which is still the world-record for a defender.
The Yorkshireman’s £180,000-a-week contract runs until 2025, but it has become abundantly clear that Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez are Erik ten Hag’s first-choice pairing.
Man United will be faced with taking a £40m hit on Harry Maguire if he leaves this summer
The England defender has fallen out of favour under Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford this season
The United manager’s decision to use Luke Shaw as a centre-back this season – as he did at Elland Road – has further limited the first-team opportunities for Maguire who also faces competition from Victor Lindelof.
The fact that Ten Hag kept Maguire as captain when he took over in the summer has only exacerbated an awkward situation which needs resolving.
Maguire was against asked about his lack of playing time after the 2-0 win over Leeds and admitted that it has been disappointing.
‘It’s not about me, it’s about the club being successful and I want to be a part of it,’ he said.
‘I’m the captain and I put the team miles before myself. Whether I’m playing or not, I want the team to do well.
‘I’m still getting my minutes. Everyone wants to start games, and it’s disappointing when you don’t. You have four international centre-backs at this club and there will always be two who are unhappy. I just have to be ready for when the chance comes.’
With Martinez suspended for Thursday’s Europa League play-off against Barcelona at the Nou Camp, Maguire will be hoping for another opportunity as Ten Hag juggles his squad through a busy schedule of fixtures.
The Dutchman admitted that his selection against Leeds was ‘part rotation part tactics’ as he rested Varane and Martinez on the bench, and played Shaw alongside Maguire in the middle with Tyrell Malacia at left back. That allowed Malacia to tuck in and offer an extra man in midfield when…