HARRY MAGUIRE will either lift the FA Cup trophy along with Bruno Fernandes today or walk down the Wembley steps with his runners-up medal.
Either way, these are likely to be Maguire’s final actions in a United shirt.
ReutersHarry Maguire played the last six weeks of the season with broken ribs[/caption]
Even just a few weeks ago, the England defender had a fierce determination to get through this rough spell at Old Trafford and remain as club captain into next season.
And we can also reveal that Maguire has been playing with BROKEN RIBS after suffering the injury away to Sevilla in the Europa League six weeks ago.
But now, Maguire’s four-year spell at United is coming to an end. Ahead of the final game of the season, any last chance Maguire had of turning around his United nightmare now looks to have gone up in smoke.
The club captain, an 88th minute substitute against Newcastle, jointly lifted the Carabao Cup with stand-in skipper Fernandes and the same is planned this afternoon even if Maguire does not feature against Manchester City.
But it is now obvious that if Maguire is to become a big part for England’s bid for glory at Euro2024 in Germany next summer, he must leave for another club.
When naming his squad for the forthcoming Euro qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia, England boss Gareth Southgate, asked about Maguire’s lack of action, said: “Inevitably, it’s not a situation that can continue forever.”
And earlier this week, United boss Erik ten Hag admitted Maguire “has a decision to make” over his future. This effectively meant he is free to leave.
Even though he has featured 31 times for United this season, Maguire started only eight Premier League games.
Maguire enjoyed a good World Cup with England but either side of that, it has been the most difficult season of the defender’s career.
He was not helped by being hit by a virus after returning from Qatar. And away to Sevilla, he broke his ribs but played on and also made himself available for the next few games..
Maguire has two years left on his £10million-a-year contract. United also have an option for a third year which, clearly, they will not be exercising.
He signed for United from Leicester for £85million in 2019 despite Pep Guardiola’s efforts to take him to Manchester City but to the Spaniard’s frustrations, his club could not come up with the money.
For United, they got their man at the second attempt as Jose Mourinho failed in a £40m bid when he was in charge in Manchester.
If Mourinho moves to PSG, potentially, he could make another attempt, particularly as the French giants made a loan offer in January.
Also, both Inter Milan and AC Milan tried to sign Maguire on loan in January and this summer, they are both in the market for a centre-half.
West Ham also failed in a loan bid in January while other admirers of Maguire include Marco Silva at Fulham.
Aston Villa are likely to strengthen and manager Unai Emery, when he was at Arsenal, made an approach to Maguire when he was at Leicester.
Other options could be Newcastle, who need to build their squad further and clearly, Eddie Howe believes in having a core group of English players.
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Spurs, also, could be a potential move which would interest Maguire, providing Harry Kane was still at the club.
As Sunsport revealed yesterday, Maguire could also be offered to Chelsea as part of getting Mason Mount to United. Pochettino has always been a fan of Maguire and tried to sign him when he was at Hull. But because Daniel Levy’s offer was not good enough, the centre-back joined Leicester instead.
Right now, Maguire is in limbo although the only certainty is that this will be the last time he walks out of the Wembley tunnel wearing a United shirt.