West Ham United striker Michael Antonio urges backing for Manchester United ace Harry Maguire. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Dwight Yorke has urged Harry Maguire to change teams this summer window after having fallen off the pecking order at Manchester United
Former Manchester United player Dwight Yorke while speaking on Boyle Sports (h/t Manchester Evening News) believes that current Manchester United captain Harry Maguire needs to leave the club to revive his career after having fallen down the pecking order under Erik Ten Hag.
While still the club’s captain on paper, Maguire is the fifth preferred centre-back behind Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw.
Yorke believes that he does not see a future for Maguire at United and believes it would be better that he looks for a move elsewhere to reignite his career.
“Harry Maguire has been at Man United for four years now, he’s clearly talented and is still one of England’s number one defenders. If he doesn’t match the philosophy of Erik ten Hag, then there’s nothing he can do but leave the club.
“Aston Villa would be a great destination for Maguire, they’re ambitious and want to break into the top six. Unai Emery has done a fantastic job, they have a great stadium and an amazing fanbase.
“Villa are looking to bring in established players to break into the European spots consistently and Maguire is one of those established players. It’s a fresh start for Maguire, he can get out of the limelight and blossom again.”
Harry Maguire of Manchester United would be stripped of the captain’s band for the upcoming season (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
It is true that Ten Hag does not favour the profile of Maguire but in no way it suggests that he is a lousy defender. He is an England International and one of the first names on the teamsheet under Gareth Southgate.
With Ten Hag’s vision for United, the squad will be playing with a much higher back line, something which cannot be made possible with Maguire’s slow pace.
However, he is the perfect centre-back for teams willing to do low blocks and the ability to sustain constant pressure and will be a good fit in teams such as Aston Villa.
Harry Maguire’s time at Manchester United seems to be up. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
The trajectory on which United is good, it is very tough to see Maguire being a part of it long-term and with the Euros 2024 Championship also on the horizon, it would be best for all parties involved that Maguire looks for a move away from United this summer window.
It remains to be seen if Aston Villa will show concrete interest in signing the former Leicester City defender. He could be a smart addition for a team entering into Europe after a long wait, but much will also depend on Maguire’s own will, and if he wants to ‘downgrade’ in terms of clubs (with all due respect to Villa).
And… Unai Emery has Ezri Konsa and Tyrone Mings as his starting centre-backs — two players who are giving Maguire’s place in England’s XI the biggest threat.
Yuvraj Singh
