Manchester United

Manchester United

Premier League • England

Man Utd ‘resigned’ to selling fallen star at huge loss as West Ham circle, with triple exit to fund deadly Ten Hag signing

Man Utd defenders Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire

Man Utd accept they’ll recoup just 50 percent of what they paid when ousting a senior star whose sale – along with two others – will fund a major striker move, per reports.

The Red Devils were faced with a unique problem when entering the winter window – how do you replace Cristiano Ronaldo?

Various permanent signings were touted, though in the knowledge anything he spent would detract from the summer budget, Erik ten Hag opted for a cost-effective loan signing.

Wout Weghorst was the player Man Utd landed on, with the Dutchman joining on a six-month loan from Burnley. The veteran forward may yet do enough to earn a permanent move, though any such deal will have to be negotiated from scratch.

The Telegraph’s James Ducker previously reported United will have to ‘sell well’ if they’re to land the calibre of striker they crave.

Harry Kane and Napoli’s Victor Osimhen are high on their shortlist. On Tuesday, TEAMtalk exclusively revealed a third, slightly cheaper option who’d be no less explosive but far easier to sign.

All three frontmen will cost sizeable fees and to help fund a move, the Manchester Evening News reported a high profile trio have been put up for sale.

Alex Telles (currently on loan at Sevilla), Harry Maguire and Anthony Martial are the threesome in question. Fabrizio Romano later echoed the claims Martial could be moved on.

However, today’s update regards club captain Maguire, with the Daily Mail’s Mail Plus shedding new light on his potential exit.

Cut-price Maguire sale to fund striker signing

They state United are ‘resigned’ to losing Maguire for ‘only half’ the £80m fee they paid Leicester in 2019.

Maguire remains an integral figure at international level for England. However, he’s been shunted down to the bench at Old Trafford ever since Lisandro Martinez arrived.

The Argentine has struck up a fine early partnership with Raphael Varane. What’s more, the latter recently retired from international football with France in a move that should boost his chances of staying fit for Man Utd.

The MEN add their take on the situation, claiming in lieu of Maguire’s demotion, he’s now ‘considering his own future beyond the end of the season’.

As such, both the player and club appear to be converging on the viewpoint that his future lays away from Old Trafford.

A £40m fee won’t look good on paper given he signed for twice that amount, though it’s still a hefty sum to receive for an out-of-favour 29-year-old.

On the subject of who could swoop, ESPN reported in mid-January West Ham were mulling a move. talkSPORT were another outlet to put David Moyes’ men in the frame.

READ MORE: Man Utd learn ever-growing Osimhen transfer value as Napoli shortlist three potential successors in indication summer move is on