Second claim made on Harry Maguire swapping Man Utd for Prem rivals, as pundit predicts major financial loss

Two more pundits have spoken about the possibility of Harry Maguire leaving Manchester United for Tottenham, with his starting spot at Old Trafford in doubt.

Erik ten Hag has preferred to go with Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane at centre-back this season, when both players are fit. This has left Man Utd skipper Maguire warming the bench in several big matches, while he has also been held back by a hamstring injury.

The 29-year-old shrugged off his problems at club level while representing England at the World Cup. He ended up being one of Gareth Southgate’s best players before the quarter-final defeat to France.

Maguire’s impressive displays at the World Cup have got some fans questioning what will happen once he returns to Man Utd. Some will think he deserves a starting spot, while others will want Ten Hag to continue using the Martinez and Varane partnership.

Should Ten Hag go with the latter, then Maguire may be forced to find a new club. And on Thursday, talkSPORT pundit Ally McCoist tipped the defender to make a shock switch to Tottenham in January.

“I think he [Maguire] will move. I don’t think he may move, I’ll go one further – I think he will move,” McCoist stated.

“He isn’t going to hang around – he wants to play. I don’t think there are any guarantees that he’s going to march back into the Manchester United team, not in front of Varane and Martinez.

“Straight away off the top of my head, I’d say he’s good enough for Spurs. Arsenal? Maybe not at this moment in time. But he’s been one of England’s best players at the World Cup.”

Pundit ‘would take’ Harry Maguire at Tottenham

Fellow talkSPORT pundits Jamie O’Hara and Jason Cundy have now given their takes on Maguire’s situation.

O’Hara says he would be happy to have the world’s most expensive defender at his former club Spurs, while Cundy reckons Man Utd will lose as much as £40m when letting him go.

“Tottenham has been a shout maybe for the centre-half,” O’Hara said. “I know we need a centre-half.”

He added: “Manchester United are going to lose money.

“Say Spurs come in for him in January, I’d take him at Tottenham by the way. We need a centre-half.”

“They’re not going to get anywhere near the £80m they paid for him,” Cundy replied. “If they get somewhere near half of that I think that’s where you’re at.”

Defender could make headlines with Spurs move

It would be a big shock if Maguire left Man Utd for Spurs this winter. After all, the two clubs are in direct competition for a top-four spot this season.

But stranger things have happened in previous transfer windows. And perhaps Spurs boss Antonio Conte was impressed by Maguire’s performances in Qatar.

Previously, Man Utd have had problems convincing clubs to bid large amounts of money for the former Sheffield United man. And this issue will probably come back again if Spurs begin talks for him.

Man Utd will likely want to receive more than the £40m sum Cundy is suggesting. Spurs, in contrast, will not want to go any higher than £40m.

Due to this, a loan move could be the best bet for all parties involved. This would give Maguire the chance to impress Spurs over a six-month spell. The club could then decide whether a permanent move is worth it or not.

Meanwhile, Man Utd have been handed some good news in their pursuit of a striker after his price tag fell significantly.