Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag wants to sell Harry Maguire – but his transfer window has now taken a completely different path
(Image credit: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is fuming over a Harry Maguire u-turn, which looks set to affect the rest of the transfer window for the Red Devils.
The club have brought in new players across the team, with a new goalkeeper in Andre Onana, a new midfielder in Mason Mount and a new striker in Rasmus Hojlund. Ten Hag would like to have a completely new spine to his side by adding one more defender, however, with Maguire set to leave.
The former Manchester United captain looked all set to depart the club with a fee agreed with West Ham United only for the deal to fall through – with The Guardianreporting that Maguire's exit from Old Trafford is yet to be agreed between player and club.
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire is digging his heels, according to reports (Image credit: Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
Maguire is believed to be demanding a payout from his employers to leave, with West Ham turning attention to former Arsenal star Dino Mavropanos, according to ExWHUEmployee on Twitter – later confirmed by Fabrizio Romano.
Now, The Mirror have confirmed that Maguire's u-turn is having a knock on the rest of United's transfer business, with the 20-time English champions needing to sell the 30-year-old in order to bring in someone to replace him.
VIDEO: Why Southgate picks Maguire
The Mail have confirmed that United's top target to replace Maguire in the backline, Benjamin Pavard, is the subject of a bid from Inter Milan, with the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City all interested in the World Cup winner this summer.
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While United would love to bring in Pavard as a direct replacement for Maguire, though, they are powerless to until Maguire leaves the club, giving their rivals a march on the target.
Benjamin Pavard is wanted by Manchester United (Image credit: Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Should Maguire fail to agree his exit before the end of the transfer window, Ten Hag could be lumbered with a player that he clearly doesn't trust for another year – as demonstrated by Victor Lindelof coming on as a substitute on Monday night against Wolverhampton Wanderers ahead of Maguire and left-back Luke Shaw featuring at centre-back ahead of his international colleague in the centre of defence last season on numerous occasions.
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.
