Manchester United are preparing for life without captain Harry Maguire – but could they have his replacement lined up already?
(Image credit: Future)
Manchester United could well already have their Harry Maguire replacement sorted ahead of a huge summer of business.
Captain Maguire moved to Old Trafford in 2019 in a world record deal for a defender, signing for around £80 million. The England international has fluctuated in form since, with manager Erik ten Hag deeming him surplus to requirements in his side.
While plenty of new defenders have been touted, however, one intriguing new link suggests that Ten Hag has already sorted a replacement at centre-back for Maguire.
Harry Maguire is set to leave Manchester United this summer (Image credit: Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
The Frenchman would be a huge coup for the Red Devils but given that they already have Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw in that position, it certainly suggests some moving around of existing players.
Shaw, however, played centre-back for much of last season under Ten Hag – and to a good standard. Even when Maguire was fit, Shaw was often picked ahead of his England colleague.
Hernandez would enable United to rotate Shaw between centre-back and left-back positions, with Malacia on the fringes as a squad option.
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Theo Hernandez of AC Milan is being linked with Manchester United (Image credit: Getty Images)
United are believed to be interested in more than one centre-back, with Victor Lindelof's future uncertain, too.
Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.
