MY ACCOUNT
This season has not been one to remember for Harry Maguire.
He may have starred for England at the 2022 World Cup but the going has been extremely tough for him at Manchester United under Erik ten Hag.
The club captain, 30, has been restricted to 31 appearances in all competitions, with only eight Premier League starts.
Ahead of the Red Devils’ FA Cup final meeting with rivals Manchester City on Sunday, we take a look at what the future may hold for the world’s most expensive defender.
Summer decision
United boss Ten Hag has made it clear that while he values Maguire’s presence in his first-team squad, he is not indispensable.
The Dutchman said: “No one would be happy with this situation. He is not as well. He trains always on best levels, so with 100% effort.
“He has high competition there [at centre-back] 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.”
Even in the absence of Varane and Lisandro Martinez — Ten Hag’s preferred defensive partnership — Maguire has still struggled for minutes.
Both Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw, a left-back by trade, have usurped him in the pecking order.
Irons in the fire
Given Maguire’s struggles this term, interest from English clubs of similar stature to United is likely to be slim to none.
Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson said: “It’s hard. He’s at the biggest club in the world in my opinion.
“I know they’re not performing like the biggest club in the world but they’re a huge club and he’s there, so wherever he goes from here is going to be a downgrade.
“He’s worked so hard, from where he’s come from to get to Leicester then to get to Man Utd, it’s probably hard for him to leave, but he has to leave.”
However, a Premier League move is still firmly on the cards — and West Ham are being heavily linked with a summer pursuit.
David Moyes’ side were reportedly keen on completing a deal for the centre-back last January but an agreement ultimately never materialised.
Given Kurt Zouma’s persistent injury issues and the fact Angelo Ogbonna is now 35, Maguire could be an ideal candidate to partner Nayef Aguerd next season.
Promising signs
Despite regularly having to make do with a place on the bench, Maguire has still produced some decent numbers this season.
No player in the United squad averages more passes completed per 90 minutes (57.87).
The Three Lions ace also boasts a better record for final third passes completed per 90 (5.79) than Varane, Martinez and Lindelof.
Maguire’s impressive passing stats are perhaps why he has attracted interest from Serie A clubs, including Juventus and AC Milan.
Euro 2024
United’s No5 will know that if he doesn’t secure regular football next season, a place in Gareth Southgate’s squad for Euro 2024 is far from a certainty.
Southgate himself admitted last week: “It’s not a situation that can continue for ever.
“Of course the longer that situation goes on the more concerning it is and we’ve got Marc Guéhi, Lewis Dunk, Tyrone Mings — players who are playing well.”
The England boss has stuck by Maguire through recent tough times, but with others knocking on the door, the clock is ticking for the Yorkshireman.
A move away from United this summer seems to be the right thing to do in order to get his career back on track.
