Exclusive: Man Utd to axe senior star with Newcastle, West Ham ready to pounce in deal that won’t please Ten Hag

TEAMtalk can confirm Man Utd have made Harry Maguire available for sale this summer, and while Newcastle and West Ham are among the early contenders for his signature, the structure of a deal may displease Erik ten Hag.

Maguire, 30, has tumbled down the pecking order since Ten Hag took charge. The Dutchman’s preferred centre-back pairing is Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez. Even on the occasion Martinez has missed out, Ten Hag has curiously selected Luke Shaw out of position at centre-half on numerous occasions since the World Cup.

Maguire remains a key figure for Gareth Southgate and England, though his club career has stalled.

As such, and to ensure he remains in England’s plans, a summer exit would make sense for both Maguire and United.

The Manchester Evening News previously reported Maguire has been put up for sale. The Mail Plus later claimed Man Utd are resigned to only recouping around half of the £80m they paid Leicester in 2019.

More recently, the Sun put French heavyweight PSG in the mix for Maguire. The Parisians may lose Sergio Ramos at season’s end who could forge a reunion with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr.

Now, speaking exclusively to TEAMtalk, transfer insider Graeme Bailey has confirmed Maguire has indeed been made available for sale.

Bailey named Newcastle and West Ham as being among Maguire’s potential suitors from within the Premier League.

However, Bailey stressed a move to either of those clubs could come in the form of a loan with an option or obligation to buy.

The reasoning is Maguire’s hefty salary, believed to be around £200,000-a-week. A loan with a view to a permanent deal at a later date would remove Maguire from United’s books, though would defer the transfer fee they’ll receive until the end of the loan period.

With Ten Hag known to be chasing an elite centre-forward this summer, that type of Maguire exit would do little to bolster his kitty in the immediate term.

READ MORE: Ten Hag in dreamland as Jamie Carragher urges £100m star to choose Man Utd over European giants

Maguire too costly to keep as back-up – Bailey

“Harry Maguire has been told by Manchester United that he can leave this summer,” said Bailey. “That is a big call – let’s not forget, he is club captain.

“It is believed that Erik ten Hag has no issues with Maguire as a player or a person, but he represents a very expensive back-up in terms of wages if he is not playing and that isn’t going to happen with Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez firmly ahead of him in the pecking order.

“But that is one of the issues with Maguire – it is one thing putting a player up for sale and another actually selling him.

“Maguire does have a lot of interest, Newcastle and West Ham are just two of the number of top-flight clubs who want him.

“But as said it may have to be a loan with a view to getting a deal over the line at a later date.”

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