Harry Maguire faces an uncertain future at Manchester United (Picture: Getty Images)
Former Manchester United star Paul Parker says Harry Maguire is too slow and nervous to play for a top club and doubts that he could find a new club in January if he decided to move on.
Maguire is clearly not in manager Erik ten Hag’s first team plans at Old Trafford, falling behind Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez in the pecking order at centre-back.
He even seems to be behind Luke Shaw, who partnered Varane in the middle of defence against Everton in the FA Cup on Friday night despite usually playing at left-back.
The England international has been linked with a January exit, with Aston Villa mooted as a possible destination, but Parker has doubts that other clubs would be interested and that Maguire would want to leave.
The former Red Devils defender says Maguire’s position as club captain despite not playing regularly, is ‘miserable’ and he is no longer capable of playing for a top club in a withering assessment of the 29-year-old.
‘Honestly, the situation with Harry Maguire is embarrassing now. The way he is taking away the armband from Bruno Fernandes is miserable,’ Parker told MyBettingSites.
‘He should never do that and Erik ten Hag needs to take the decision now to take away the armband from Maguire for good.” He added: “I’m not sure that he will find a new club in January.
‘It will be very tough for a sporting director to convince the fans that he is a good signing at any club. Maybe he could go out on loan but then it will be a small team from the bottom of the league.
‘He can’t play for a top side like Man City, Liverpool or Newcastle because they are defending with a high line. He needs to play for a team that defends with a low block because he is too nervous and too slow to play for a big club.
‘But I think he is quite happy at Man United and most likely he will settle and enjoy his time on the bench because he knows that any other club would be a step down from Man United.’
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‘He is too nervous and too slow.’
