Manchester United

Manchester United

Premier League • England

Massive Man Utd decision to sell senior player confirmed by trusted source, with £50m hit to be taken on team-mate

Marcus Rashford and Harry Maguire of Man Utd

A second source has confirmed that Manchester United will aim to part ways with Harry Maguire in summer 2023, and the club are also prepared to take a £50million loss on one of his team-mates.

Maguire remains the Manchester United captain but that doesn’t mean he is guaranteed a spot in the starting eleven. The centre-half has spent four Premier League games on the bench so far this season.

His game time has also been reduced by a hamstring injury, which kept him out for a further five league matches. But it is clear that boss Erik ten Hag wants to go with other players in the centre of defence.

Should both stars be fit, then Ten Hag will likely go with Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez at the back for most of the big clashes.

On Thursday, Italian journalist Rudy Galetti claimed Man Utd have made a big decision about Maguire’s future. They are happy to sell him, even if it means taking a big hit on the £80m signing.

Galetti suggested Maguire could depart Old Trafford as early as January. Trusted source The Guardian now provide their information on the 29-year-old’s future.

They refute Galetti’s claim about Maguire leaving in January, but they state that Man Utd will definitely listen to offers for him next summer.

The Red Devils have apparently accepted the fact they will take a ‘considerable loss’ on the world’s most expensive defender.

£80m Harry Maguire to leave Man Utd

But these are the big decisions Ten Hag must make if he is to make the squad his own and take them back to the summit of English, and potentially European, football.

The report doesn’t mention which sides may be interested in taking Maguire on board. His poor form over the last 18 months will have put many potential suitors off.

Plus, there is also the Englishman’s huge wages to consider. He reportedly takes home £190,000 a week, which is a sum few clubs will manage to get near.

Maguire isn’t the only Man Utd player set to move on. The Guardian reveal central midfielder Fred is also in line to be axed.

Ten Hag will allow the former Shakhtar Donetsk star to leave on a free transfer when his Man Utd contract expires at the end of the campaign.

Not only are Man Utd taking a hit on Maguire, they are facing a big loss when it comes to Fred too.

According to Sky Sports, the Manchester side parted with £52m when signing Fred four years ago.

And by letting Fred move on for free, they will have no chance of making any of that money back.

Ten Hag has apparently ‘been impressed with Fred’s application and team ethic’. But he does not believe the midfielder has enough quality to be a mainstay in his team.

The Dutch coach is still looking for a top-class midfielder to partner Casemiro in the centre of the pitch. This could see them pursue Frenkie de Jong once again.

Meanwhile, a Man Utd star has been blasted for a comment which could ruin Ten Hag’s dressing room harmony.