Reports indicate that Harry Maguire has expressed reluctance to depart from Manchester United this summer. The defender is eager to stay and compete for a position under Erik ten Hag. During Ten Hag’s first season in charge, Maguire made only 16 appearances in the Premier League, leading to expectations that he would be moved on in the upcoming weeks.
Out of those 16 top-flight matches, Maguire started in just eight, highlighting the fact that he no longer has a guaranteed spot in the team. Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane, and Victor Lindelof have all surpassed him in the pecking order, with Luke Shaw also being preferred over him.
Despite being dropped, Maguire reportedly prefers to remain at Manchester United. There is interest from Tottenham in acquiring the United captain, and Ten Hag is open to selling the 30-year-old ahead of the next season.
Maguire is not actively seeking to leave United but is keeping an open mind about his future. However, there are currently no indications that his prospects will improve in the coming year.
According to the same report, Ten Hag is interested in selling Maguire to finance a move for Napoli’s Kim Min-jae, a highly regarded center-back in Serie A this season.
Ten Hag has openly acknowledged that Maguire has a decision to make regarding his future, while England manager Gareth Southgate is concerned about Maguire’s limited role.
It is believed that if Maguire departs this summer, he would be entitled to a £10 million payout from Manchester United, and it is likely that the FA Cup final was his last game for the club.
Due to his age and the fact that he is two-thirds into a lucrative £190,000-per-week contract, Maguire’s value has now decreased to around £30 million. At a new club, he would earn only half of his current wages, leaving Manchester United with a £10 million wage bill to remove him from their books.
Meanwhile, Manchester United is interested in Napoli stalwart Kim as a potential replacement for Maguire.
The club is also in pursuit of a striker and a midfielder, but bolstering Ten Hag’s defense remains a priority despite the ongoing takeover negotiations.
Kim had an outstanding season in Italy, contributing to his team’s title victory. His performances have attracted significant interest this summer, with Newcastle reportedly keen on signing him to strengthen their squad.
