Harry Maguire is experiencing the most challenging period in his career and that has coincided with Erik ten Hag dropping him at Manchester United.
Lisandro Martinez, who followed Ten Hag to Old Trafford this summer, has immediately become a fan-favourite and the Argentine has forged a stellar partnership with Raphael Varane.
The pair have kept three clean sheets out of the last five games they have started together in all competitions, making a return to the side for Maguire complicated.
Maguire has three years remaining on his contract at the club and his future does not look to be in immediate danger but pundit Stan Collymore, the former Liverpool star, has now claimed that United could sell Maguire as early as the next transfer window if he has a good World Cup.
“Maguire’s agent is Paul Stretford, who was also my agent when I was a professional player, so I know Stretford will not want his star client sitting there not doing much. He will know that he has a real big asset on his hands, so he will want him to be playing,” Collymore told CaughtOffside.
“I think if he does have a good run in the World Cup, he’ll be a wanted man and will look to get out of United during the next transfer window.
“I know some people would argue ‘But Stan, would Man United really sell their captain mid-way through a season?; – I believe so, yes.
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“Let’s be totally honest here – Maguire isn’t really United’s captain anymore. He only has that title on paper because ten Hag didn’t want to stick the knife in any further.
“The reality is that between Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez, it’s unlikely Maguire will get back into that squad, so when it comes to a potential departure, either in January or next summer, for the club and the fanbase, they won’t care. It won’t matter if a player, captain or not, is sold, just so long as the team is moving in the right direction.”
SN’s verdict…
As things stand, any potential sale of Maguire would have to hinge on United being able to cope with the loss of a senior figure in that department. Currently, United have only four centre-backs Ten Hag can rely on and losing one of them without a replacement could be catastrophic.
Furthermore, Maguire’s place in the England side ahead of the World Cup is far from secure and he will want to strengthen his hand before they jet off to Qatar in November.
From Maguire’s perspective, he will be unwilling to leave the club at this point of his career as well. It would be far more appealing to resurrect his form at Old Trafford. Whether he’s allowed to do that by the manager remains to be seen.