Glenn Fernandes
Transfer News: Manchester United could sell Harry Maguire in the coming summer window
According to Spanish outlet Fichajes (h/t FourFourTwo), Manchester United could be willing to let go of their marquee defender Harry Maguire at the end of the season. The English star could be one of the players who may have to depart the club in light of a potential overhaul at Old Trafford.
The 29-year-old defender’s performances have blown hot and cold for a long time now but his recent outings have seen some scathing criticism being levelled against him The former Leicester City defender is a regular starter in the England national squad but his time at the Mancunian club could now be up.
Harry Maguire joined the Red side of Manchester for a fee of £80m in 2019. This mammoth fee meant that the English centre-back became the most expensive defender of all time. The former Hull City player has largely struggled to justify this price tag and could be shown the door before the next season begins. Ronald Araujo is being touted as a potential replacement for the English international.
The Uruguayan defender has grown in leaps and bounds at Barcelona under the tutelage of Xavi Hernandez. His physical prowess and composure at the back could provide us with something that we have rarely seen from the English defender in the last couple of seasons.
At 23, Araujo could become a long-term asset to the club provided he maintains his current trajectory and form. The club could certainly do well to add more defensive reinforcements in light of their woes this season.
Is it the end of the road for Maguire?
With Maguire struggling to live up to our expectations, the club could cash in and try to recuperate at least a significant amount of the money we spent on him, even though it is highly unlikely that we will be able to recover all of it.
The Mancunian club managed to purchase Rafael Varane before the start of this season, but injury issues have plagued him ever since he made the switch to Old Trafford. Eric Bailly has shown great potential but his tryst with inconsistency is too close for comfort if we are to field him regularly.
Victor Lindelof seems like the only dependable option at the moment and it will be interesting to see how the decision-makers at Old Trafford will tackle this plight. The Red Devils have now failed to lift a major trophy for five years which is an alarming sign for a top club like Man Utd.
A reshuffle seems imminent at the moment as things stand. That being said, the club will have to do much more and instil a strong mentality rather than just keep purchasing players for astronomical sums if they are to succeed in the long term.
More Manchester United News
- Ajax Amsterdam boss Erik ten Hag favourite to become new Manchester United manager in the summer
- Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick’s consultancy role at the end of the season still unclear
- Manchester United eye ex-Liverpool coach Andy O’Boyle for new deputy director of football role at Old Trafford
The departure of Harry Maguire in such an instance wouldn’t be such a bad thing for the player as well as the club. It could potentially clear up the way for luring another exciting talent at the Mancunian club.
