Maguire is now fourth-choice at Old Trafford (Picture: Getty)
West Ham United are weighing up a loan move for Manchester United captain Harry Maguire this month.
The England international has slipped down the pecking order at Old Trafford this season with Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane now Erik ten Hag’s first-choice pairing at the back.
Maguire is now effectively United’s fourth choice centre-half with Luke Shaw shifted inside in thee of United’s last four league games, including Saturday’s victory over Manchester City.
With Victor Lindelof also in the picture, Maguire’s first-team prospects at Old Trafford look bleak with The Mirror reporting West Ham could now offer him a lifeline this month.
The Hammers are currently sit in the relegation zone, level on points with Southampton and Everton at the foot of the table.
Craig Dawson has been the subject of a bid from Wolves with the West Ham defender keen to return to the Midlands, with Maguire among the options to replace him in east London. Senegal international Formose Mendy is also being considered.
Maguire joined United from Leicester City for £80million in 2019 and was made club captain six months later. The 29-year-old endured a woeful campaign last season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and interim boss Ralf Rangnick but restored his reputation somewhat with a solid World Cup campaign with England, where he remains first-choice under Gareth Southgate.
David Moyes is under pressure at West Ham (Picture: Getty)
Maguire is one of a clutch of players who could leave United in the summer to help free up cash for ten Hag to continue his rebuild at Old Trafford.
Former United defender Rio Ferdinand believes the defender will be looking to leave Old Trafford as soon as possible, with Shaw’s recent selection at centre-half serving as another damning indictment of his first-team chances.
‘If I’m Harry Maguire, I am looking for a new club right now, I have to be honest,’ Ferdinand told BT Sport earlier this month. ‘You saw what he does for England, he is impeccable for England, he is faultless for England. He puts in good, solid performances for England.
‘At Manchester United, it just hasn’t worked out for him. This manager, it is showing in his team selection that he is not going to be one of the top two, three centre-halves in his squad.
If I’m Harry Maguire, I am looking for a new club right now, I have to be honest. You saw what he does for England, he is impeccable for England, he is faultless for England. He puts in good, solid performances for England.
‘At Manchester United, it just hasn’t worked out for him. This manager, it is showing in his team selection that he is not going to be one of the top two, three centre-halves in his squad.’
‘So I am thinking if I am him in his shoes, I would be saying, find me somewhere else where I can go and enjoy my football and be playing regularly.’
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United are prepared to cash in during the summer.
