Harry Maguire was stripped of the Manchester United captaincy by Erik ten Hag earlier this summer and is tipped to complete a transfer – with West Ham interested
Erik ten Hag brutally insulted Harry Maguire and refused to give him the captaincy in United’s final US tour match against Borussia Dortmund – despite new club captain Bruno Fernandes not playing.
Maguire, 30, had a night to forget on Sunday, as Manchester United lost 3-2 at Nevada. Two goals from Donyell Malen and Youssoufa Moukoko were enough for Dortmund to win the match, with Diogo Dalot and Antony scoring for Ten Hag’s side.
Maguire has been involved in a bitter row with new United goalkeeper Andre Onana, while Ten Hag has criticized his defense in full. That night only raised further doubts about Maguire’s future after he was stripped of the captaincy earlier this summer.
The England international is expected to complete a summer transfer, with West Ham seeing his £20 million bid rejected. United wanted £50 million and someone to pay his £200,000-a-week wages, but many teams were unable – or unwilling to meet – those demands.
West Ham are unsure whether to make another bid for Maguire, who cost Leicester £80m four years ago. It is claimed the defender wants to join a ‘bigger club’ than the Hammers, with Chelsea, Tottenham and Newcastle thought to be interested.
Maguire started just eight Premier League games last season and his confidence will not grow after seeing Ten Hag hand McTominay the captain’s armband. Onana’s explosion, launched after he was forced into a save, will also increase speculation about Maguire’s future.
Ten Hag previously stated that he was happy to keep Maguire as back-up to Raphael Varane. The France international struggled with fitness during his two years at Old Trafford and missed the defeat to Dortmund as a precaution.
But Ten Hag’s comments after Thursday’s game will tickle United fans. He criticized the “poor defending” and concluded: “Two halves – good first hour [game], put in a good performance, played as a team, lots of dynamic, pressed well.
“So it was really nice to see. That’s what I wanted to say to the team in the first half and then suddenly they conceded two goals and they really gave the gift. So it was already annoying but the last half an hour was bad, the performance that bad.”
Maguire will need to play more often to ensure he is part of Gareth Southgate’s squad for the Euros, which take place in Germany next summer. Southgate has been stuck at centre-back during this difficult period but is under pressure to select another star.
Ten Hag has previously discussed the decision to take the armband from Maguire and give it to Fernandes. He said: “It’s disappointing for a player but it could actually work well for the team and for Harry.
“He remains an important player. He can fend for himself into the team. He has potential and it’s up to him to get into his position. Now he can focus more on his role, but the centre-half has to communicate and manage. This is a big area where you have to perform as a centre-back.”
