Manchester United captain Harry Maguire is attracting interest from a number of top Italian clubs, amid uncertainty over his future at Old Trafford.
Maguire was at fault for the first goal in United’s heavy 3-0 defeat to Sevilla on Thursday night, which confirmed his side’s elimination from the Europa League at the quarter-final stage. The England international has regained his place in the starting team in recent matches, but only due to injuries sustained by first choice centre-back pairing Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez.
90min understands that United are prepared to offload Maguire at the end of the season as Erik ten Hag attempts to continue his Old Trafford rebuild, with some high profile player departures necessary to create room on the wage bill and allow budget flexibility. Maguire is one of several first team players who could depart before the new season in the right circumstances.
United would prefer to recoup a fee and seal a permanent transfer for Maguire, now 30, but securing a substantial fee and removing his £190,000-a-week salary from the books may prove problematic. There has been Premier League interest, though Juventus, Milan and Inter are all interested in potential loan deals with options to buy.
Such a deal wouldn’t be perfect for United in the circumstances but they may need to be flexible in order to create room to manoeuvre around FFP limitations, and to ensure they secure deals for players of sufficient quality in key positions. Centre forward and central midfield are top priorities to fill.
Maguire’s camp are understood to believe Serie A could be an ideal landing spot for the player if he is to leave Old Trafford, and while willingness is there from United to part ways it’s by no means a guarantee at this stage. Maguire is at risk of losing the club captaincy due to his reduced status even if he does end up staying.
United would also like to acquire a new centre half to support Varane and Martinez moving forward, with Varane’s injury record often meaning they need to rely on a third player in that position with regularity.
90min reported last month of Ten Hag’s continued interest in Ajax defender Jurrien Timber, though Portuguese pair Goncalo Inacio and Antonio Silva, of Sporting CP and Benfica respectively, are also liked by scouts. Benfica have other players they would look to sell first – striker Goncalo Ramos has been linked to United himself – and would demand a large fee for Silva, their latest academy breakout star.
A right-back is also wanted with doubts over Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s futures, while David de Gea remains likely to extend his contract on reduced terms.