United are actively looking to trim back their squad before the Sept. 1 transfer deadline and are hoping to find new clubs for Donny van de Beek, Brandon Williams and Eric Bailly. Maguire is in a different category along with Scott McTominay and Anthony Martial, players who are not being pushed toward the exit though any realistic bid will be considered.
According to sources, United would look to replace Maguire with another signing if he ends up leaving, though the club are conscious that it would be difficult to get the right player at such late notice. Another option at centre-back is Jonny Evans, signed to a short-term contract over the summer to allow the 35-year-old to play in United’s preseason fixtures. He is without a club after leaving Leicester City at the end of last season.
The biggest question for Maguire to answer is whether he’ll get enough games at United to keep his place in the England squad. He started just eight times in the Premier League last season, but remained Gareth Southgate’s first choice, although even Southgate has admitted the situation cannot carry on indefinitely. Southgate’s assistant, Steve Holland, was in the crowd at Old Trafford on Monday to see first hand Maguire’s latest snub.
There were other instances over the summer, including Ten Hag’s decision to hand the armband to Casemiro, McTominay and Tom Heaton on occasions when Fernandes wasn’t on the pitch but Maguire was. Maguire was also booed by fans in Dublin after making a mistake that led to Athletic Club‘s goal during a 1-1 draw with the Spanish side. It happened during the preseason tour of Australia in 2022 as well.
Ten Hag is known within the United squad as a straight talker and Maguire will be clear on his place in the pecking order. The Dutchman wants four centre-backs in his squad to cover games in the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup, and his first-choice pair of Martinez and Raphaël Varane cannot play every time.
Maguire, still the most expensive defender in the world after his £80m move from Leicester in 2019, has two years left on his contract at Old Trafford and so the debate about his role at United is not going away any time soon.
He can only hope that Ten Hag shares his confidence that he’s worthy of a place in the team. Otherwise, it’s going to be another long season in the shadows.
