Harry Maguire’s future at Manchester United is increasingly in doubt with the club planning to sign a world-class defender to replace him this summer, according to reports.
The 28-year-old has endured a tough campaign with his form dipping after returning from England’s Euro 2020 campaign, while reports on Thursday claimed his teammates have been questioning his continued presence in the starting XI.
When fit, Maguire has always been in the lineup – under both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick – but players have been ‘privately airing grievances’ and are shocked by his undroppable status.
But while Maguire may have the support of Rangnick, the Daily Mail claim that the club’s hierarchy are drawing up plans to sign a new centre-back to partner Raphael Varane.
A world-class centre-back is high on their list of priorities for the summer, with the club’s football director John Murtough drawing up transfer plans irrespective of who the new manager will be.
Chelsea contract rebel Antonio Rudiger is one of the names on the club’s wish list, with the German coach available on a free transfer in the summer.
Notably, like Maguire, Rudiger is a left-sided defender and it would be the United captain who would make way should the Chelsea star arrive.
Another option United are considering is Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo, though the 22-year-old would need time to adapt to the Premier League and would not be expected to nail down a first-team place immediately, possibly granting Maguire a lifeline.
According to the Mail’s report, Maguire has upset a number of his teammates this campaign by openly blaming them on the pitch for making mistakes.
Maguire has also been critical of his United teammates in the media in post-match interviews, something which has not gone down well given the skipper’s own erratic form.
